Chapter 238
Chapter 238
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 238
Chapter Title: Repay Favors Twice Over, Enemies a Hundredfold (2)
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His Imperial Majesty listened to my words and asked in a voice brimming with curiosity.
"What method do you intend to use? If it's something you want to do, I won't hold back on support."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. The operation I'm planning is none other than raiding the coast of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw before the full-scale war begins."
"Raiding? Doing something like pillaging before the war truly starts could get you dismissed if luck isn't on your side. Back when we fought the Franco Republic, you used dismissal so masterfully that it turned their internal situation into utter chaos—a valuable lesson."
The trump card I'd used to tear the Franco Republic apart so thoroughly it couldn't even be called rags anymore had been 'dismissal'.
The Franco Republic still hadn't recovered from the aftermath, and just a few months ago, one of the hardline counts in their assembly had been assassinated on orders from the moderates.
For His Majesty, who had personally taken part in every step of the process that had blown the once-intact republic apart in an instant, it was only natural to be wary of such a tactic.
But we had a loophole that could serve as a get-out-of-jail-free card now, so there was no issue at all.
"As Your Majesty says, pillaging an enemy nation without being at war would warrant dismissal. But please think it over carefully. Right now, the Reich Empire and the Grand Duchy of Warsaw are at war. It's just that the army under my command has beaten back the allied forces of Stockholm and Warsaw, entering a stalemate where armistice talks might happen."
Just as I'd said, Warsaw and the Reich Empire had merely paused their war for the moment.
If you compared it to boxing, taekwondo, or fencing, it was like watching for the perfect moment to strike—the match was still very much ongoing.
So even if I suddenly sailed in, burned all their coastal villages to the ground, and left, it wouldn't raise any problems.
"Moreover, those Stockholm bastards wickedly declared war on the Reich Empire days after we dispatched our expeditionary force to their kingdom, in accordance with church law. Thanks to that, the Reich Empire's General Staff could learn of Warsaw's intervention before our forces clashed—but when we were facing the Stockholm royal army..."
"Exactly. We in the imperial capital knew everything, but you and your forces knew nothing, leading to that major crisis. It wasn't against the law, but no one expected a grand duke to pull such a cowardly stunt."
When I'd learned of it, I'd tried to stay calm, but the sight of Warsaw's 50,000 reinforcements popping up had genuinely made the sky look yellow.
Because while 110,000 against 150,000 was a fight we could win, 110,000 against 200,000 turned it into a grueling battle.
It was the kind of dirty trick you'd expect from the Stockholm Kingdom savages who fermented and ate herring, or the Warsaw lot whose civilization was only a notch above barbarians.
So utterly stripping their coastal villages bare would surely be righteous justice even Deus would approve of.
No, even if I wasn't the most devout Deusian believer, Deus would definitely acknowledge it.
"So what's wrong with sailing in and raiding their coasts to pay back their dirty trick?"
"There's not a single flaw in your reasoning. Teaching a lesson to those dogs who dared touch the empire before full battle is commendable indeed."
"It's an honor, Your Majesty. Then allow me to explain my plan in detail."
I took a deep breath and slowly opened my mouth.
"First, for this raiding operation, I plan to deploy the empire's navy, merchants, and Northern cavalry archers. The navy and merchants will transport supplies for the Northern cavalry archers directly involved in the raids and engage in naval combat if we encounter Warsaw's fleet."
"You plan to unleash the Northerners to wreak havoc along Warsaw's coastal regions."
"Yes, exactly. The Northerners can march at nearly three times the speed of mounted knights in emergencies, making them invaluable for raiding enemy territory."
When conducting raids with small units, the most crucial thing was escaping without getting caught by the enemy's main army.
If you avoided capture, even a group of just dozens could plunder scores of villages and return unscathed.
But whether dozens or thousands, getting snagged by the enemy host meant total annihilation nine times out of ten.
Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan had understood this principle perfectly, organizing his armies around cavalry for overwhelming speed in raids.
As the commander leading the Northerners, it was only proper that I emulate him.
"Also, since the empire happens to need more ships, I'll borrow a few from Grand Duke Warsaw's ports. Taking a handful would nicely demonstrate the generosity of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the Reich Empire."
From ancient times to the medieval era and modern day, ships were outrageously expensive—no exaggeration.
Building even one required felling dozens of massive pines or oaks that had grown for 30-50 years or more.
Processing them into usable ship timber took two years for drying alone, plus at least one to two months in the shipyard per vessel.
Of course, they'd dry timber for hundreds of ships at once and build several—or even dozens—simultaneously, but still.
As far as I knew, a 500-ton ship that could carry about 150 men cost over 2,000 gold—an incredibly precious commodity.
"While we're at it, grab a few dozen ships. Now that I've ascended to the throne, I'll support your operation generously: 40 warships from the navy, 2,000 marines, and 4,000 Northern cavalry archers. That enough? Or do you need more?"
"More than enough. If naval combat happens, the Northern cavalry archers will have to fight from the ships too, so I'd appreciate time for them to train in basic naval warfare."
"I'll assign those 4,000 fresh Northern warrior recruits to coastal cities in the newly acquired northern territories. On paper, they'll look like regular marines, so even if Warsaw spies get intel, they'll think they're just marines."
Just as His Majesty said, unless a spy came all the way to observe training in detail, the most they'd glean from documents was basic info.
"You've only recently taken your admiral position... Perfect timing. You can serve as overall commander for managing the newly expanded northern territories. I'll create a new admiral post for you—take good care of the Northerners there."
...
Right now in the empire, the person the Northerners respected most was His Majesty the Emperor, who ensured they never went hungry.
Second place went to me, the one who'd personally beheaded Ludwig, so I was indeed the ideal choice to stabilize the chaotic newly conquered north.
That said, heading to another freezing hell—such was my fate.
"I shall obey your command, Your Majesty. Then come next spring, when they've let their guard down, I'll lead the fleet south in one fell swoop to strike the enemy."
"While you're at it, capture as many of their ships as possible."
As I rose to leave, His Majesty smiled brightly at me and spoke.
"Ah, one of your wives, Charlotte—her younger brother graduated from the academy this December. I'm thinking of placing him in the 1st Battalion of the Imperial Guard Knights to help him understand armies as a collective from the rear. What do you think?"
Even among academy graduates from noble families, if your father held a title below baron, elite grades alone wouldn't get you into the Imperial Guard Knights.
Because serving in close proximity to the emperor was prestige in itself, so every graduate dreamed of starting their officer career there.
But since Charlotte's brother was graduating third in his class, assigning him there wouldn't smack of favoritism...
From my decade in the military, I'd learned that junior officers grew best rolling in the dirt on tough frontlines where they had the most to learn.
And with his top grades, putting him under me directly raised no paperwork issues.
"Assign him under my command. Like back on the Rhineland Front, I'll drill him hard and turn him into an officer worth two men."
"First time I've seen someone turn down a Guard Knights posting."
"I deeply appreciate Your Majesty's kindness, but I want him to see a wider world."
"...Your brother-in-law Max is due for colonel soon too. I'll send him under you."
And so, I took command of the 'Northern Army' once more.
The difference was that now I had four stars and nearly twice the territory to manage in the north.