Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: 99% Truth, 1% Lie (2)
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I'm currently besieging the capital of the Stockholm Kingdom with a mere 85,000 troops, but this is something that would normally be considered utter madness, not even worth attempting.
Because if the royal capital falls under siege by enemy forces, an uncountable number of soldiers from across Stockholm will rush to its aid.
Which means we'd be isolated amid an overwhelming horde of Stockholm troops that 85,000 men could never hope to withstand.
Just like what happened to me on the Lichten Hills when I invaded the Swisschirand Duchy.
"As far as I know, Oslo Castle houses 40,000 troops and hundreds of thousands of citizens. And your wise King His Majesty must have stockpiled emergency rations for a full year in preparation for such a time. If you simply lock the gates tight and hold out, our Reich Empire forces are doomed to defeat. We couldn't possibly handle enemies swarming from all sides to kill us."
The reason I'm spelling all this out so kindly, point by point, is simple.
King Christian His Majesty, cowering in a corner of the royal palace inside Oslo Castle right now, might be capable of locking the gates and hunkering down...
But he's in no position to pull off anything more to trip me up.
This is obvious, and Your Excellency, as Stockholm's Minister of Military Affairs, knows it far better than I do. Even without a word from you, your angry expression concedes that I'm right.
"Ah, of course, if we weren't at war with the Sweden Kingdom up north. But right now, Stockholm is fighting both the Reich Empire and Sweden, so it can't move its forces freely. Isn't that correct?"
"Gustav Commander will crush those ragtag Sweden mobs in no time and march here. Then your empire troops will be completely cut off inside our kingdom—it's only a matter of time. And no matter how much supply support the empire sends, there's a limit to logistics."
"If you're so confident, just hole up in the castle and wait for reinforcements. If you're so sure you'll win, why bother coming out for an uncomfortable negotiation?"
Even individual stock investors never sell if they're convinced it'll rise.
How much more so on a battlefield where thousands or tens of thousands of lives and massive economic gains are at stake? If you're truly certain of victory, you never sign a losing deal, no matter how disadvantaged you appear on the surface. That's just common sense.
So why would Oxenburg Your Excellency humble his pride and come negotiate at this exact moment if he were so sure of winning?
In truth, Oslo Castle is so unstable right now—on the verge of small-scale riots or uprisings at any moment—that even he knows it, and so do I. I didn't need to touch it.
Man, a starred general needs to have political savvy and bluster, but this was a bit much.
"There's also one major, fundamental misunderstanding you have, Your Excellency. Allow me to correct it."
From here on, everything will be plausible facts laced with poison.
But I'll make you misinterpret them on your own, trembling in fear. It's up to you to filter out the poison or swallow it whole—your call, based on your abilities.
"First off, we have zero supply issues. If we wanted, we could besiege Oslo Castle for a month or even a year, no problem. So there's no need for us to force open the gates when we're short on troops."
Thanks to the supply system Commander Keitel established from the Reich Empire's northeastern coastal cities, our forces have been comfortably besieging Oslo so far.
But to be cold and realistic, this level of supply can last maybe three months at best, four if we cut back. That's the limit.
And with our smaller numbers, storming inside would put us at a massive disadvantage. Are we insane?
"I already told you supplies come in plenty by sea, right? That means we can easily bring in troops from the Reich Empire by ship too. If we hold out for just half a year, we can gather enough forces from the empire to take Oslo Castle."
We're talking half a year when we can barely last four months—it's ridiculous and absurd coming from my mouth.
Plus, with the empire currently facing the combined forces of Morenzia and the Belgium Duchy, assembling troops for Oslo without calling up emergency reserves in a national crisis would be tough.
But Stockholm probably hasn't grasped that yet, so I'll throw it out there.
At the same time, I kept a perfect poker face—blank, emotionless, like in a high-stakes poker game. The Minister of Military Affairs bought it completely.
His face drained of color, turning ghostly white.
Thank you so much for biting, Oxenburg Minister of Military Affairs Your Excellency.
"From what I've heard, Stockholm hasn't suffered defeats or heavy losses against Sweden. The momentum is evenly matched, so no one knows when it'll end. That means the troops in northern Stockholm won't come to defend the capital against us. We can just sit back, relax, and wait it out."
"Heh, such a brash young man. You remind me of my friends from back in the day. Quite the sight."
"It's an honor to hear such words from a senior who's devoted four times longer to the kingdom than I have. And a bit sloppy too."
Hearing that, the Minister of Military Affairs reached for his waist, drawing his sword toward me as if to slit my throat.
But in my command tent, where I—the one effectively commanding 85,000 Reich Empire troops—reside, there's no way he'd be allowed a sword at his belt.
So Oxenburg Your Excellency's hand just mimed drawing a blade in the air, but it was sharp, disciplined, with fierce eyes and fingertips to match.
"While we're besieging the palace for six months, will Sweden's King His Majesty just stay holed up in his castle like he's fasting in prayer? You're already at war with both nations, and by now, Sweden must know I crushed the Warsaw Grand Duchy and Stockholm allied forces on the Osby Plains."
A ominous feeling must have hit him at my words, because the Minister withdrew his arm aimed at my neck and spoke.
"So what are you saying he'll do?"
"Sweden and Stockholm have already declared war on each other, haven't they? And we've wiped out half the kingdom's forces that could interfere. Wouldn't he seize this chance to call up reserves and conquer Stockholm territory?"
"...."
I don't know what Sweden's King His Majesty is like, but any monarch knows to stab a neighbor in the back when they're in crisis—it's as natural as breathing.
So once news of my Osby Plains victory reaches him, he'll cheer three huzzahs, squeeze out reserves or hire mercenaries, and send a Second and Third Army into Stockholm.
All to claim even one more inch of land.
Cornered this far, our upstanding Minister Your Excellency finally seemed ready to 'talk,' rubbing his hands eagerly as he spoke cautiously.
"Fine, fine! We'll cede everything 300 km south of the Osby Plains. Now let's discuss peace terms properly."
...... Against Austria or other nations, this much territory would've seemed plenty.
No, it's such a sweet deal it makes you wonder if the Minister's lost it—he'd have jumped to sign without question.
Looking at his face, a bit more pressure could squeeze out even more.
What can you do? It's only proper to make the other side sweat bullets.
"Please go back. How am I supposed to convince His Imperial Majesty the Emperor with that? Discuss better terms with His Majesty the King."
"Hey now, Lieutenant General Jaeger! Even as the empire's deputy commander, isn't this too rude to a national Minister of Military Affairs like me?!"
In company terms, I'm an executive director at the Reich Empire corporation, and before me is the president of its Stockholm Kingdom subsidiary.
Normally, I shouldn't be this rude to him.
But the situation is heavily in our favor, so to strip their nation to the bone, I have no choice but to bully this elder.
"What are you lot doing? Escort Minister Your Excellency out. He seems too feverish for talks today."
At my words, two young officers outside entered and grabbed the Minister's arms, dragging him out.
Watching them go, I bowed as politely as possible in farewell.
"Not just today—hopefully next time we can have a more constructive discussion. I hate war too, you know."
Hearing that, the officers in my command tent shot me looks full of doubt, like 'You hate war?'
But I'm just a normal guy who wants to work rear duties, live in government housing, do intense workouts at night with Charlotte, Laura, Anya, and Louise, and play with Friedrich mornings and afternoons.
I don't get why everyone keeps painting me as a war maniac...
So, to vent a little on these folks framing innocent me, I said,
"You're all on night duty tonight. I'll swap the roster and send it this afternoon—got it?"