CH 331

The meeting with Mikalojus ended. We talked about various things, but he didn’t seem to understand the current situation, so I decided to let it pass for the time being.

“Master Floto…… are you really going to treat someone like that with such importance?” Kanbee asked.

“No, I won’t give him a heavy load on his shoulders,” I replied smoothly. “Of course, I don’t trust him, and I have no intention of letting him touch important secrets.”

At that, Kanbee looked blank-faced. “But you’re going to pick that person up and put him in charge of public relations, yes?”

“Right, I am,” I said. “We don’t have anyone experienced with aristocratic filth in our house. But from now on, we’ll need people skills and experience like that. If there is someone who is familiar with such things, it will be possible for us to deal with them.”

We have pursued our organizations and systems as cleanly and rationally as possible. But that’s a little out of the ordinary in this world. There is no know-how for dirty work such as quiet groundwork and behind-the-scenes scheming as Mikalojus does. So I would like him to teach my people such knowledge.

I’m not talking about using Mikalojus to get ahead in life. It’s enough just for him to teach us how to do his skill set and introduce the thinking in the process.

Of course, if Mikalojus changed his mind and said he would work hard for our House, I wouldn’t hesitate to treat him accordingly. Conversely, it also means that if Michalojus tries to do whatever he pleases again, I will cut off his head without mercy.

Whether Mikalojus will be officially hired by our House and secure a significant position in the future, or whether he will bring about his ruin due to his petty ambitions, is up to him.

“However, if he is in charge of public affairs, he may be exposed to a certain amount of confidential information…” Kanbee said.

“Well… it’s somewhat unavoidable,” I said. “If you don’t know our House’s situation when negotiating, you won’t be able to explain it to the other party… Information that can be given and information that can’t be given, there is no choice but to continue to think about which is which.”

It is impossible to keep secrets out of his hands. In the first place, at the time of negotiating with the outside world, even the negotiation itself can be said to be confidential. Naturally, it would be impossible to prevent the person in charge from touching any confidential information at all.

Rather than that, I would like to see how Mikalojus moves by giving him some information. From now on, whether they are prisoners of war or enemy citizens, we will have to use those who can be used. Otherwise, this overwhelming shortage of human resources cannot be fundamentally resolved.

The treatment of the prisoners of war from Polsky will be a touchstone for us to appoint outsiders in the future.

“Shall we head to the next?” I asked.

“Yes,” Kanbee replied.

I’m not just here to see Mikalojus today. Since there are other people to meet, I decided to move there.

This is like a prisoner of war camp, unlike Mikalojus who receives high treatment. I wonder if it’s close to a regular prison, in your mental image? I don’t know about real prisons… Besides, I don’t make them work, so I guess it’s different from prison after all…

Anyway, they are surrounded, monitored, and their actions are considerably restricted. For the time being, there is an exercise field, or a garden, so you can work out there regularly. There is no such thing as throwing them in jail and just letting them rot there.

I came to such a facility and called the person I wanted to see.

“It’s been a while, General Janzicka,” I said.

“Yes! It has been a while!” Janzicka stiffly replied.

I arrived at the meeting place and found him waiting for me. Apparently, he is still afraid of my mother. Even after the war, he was forced to attend her special training for a bit, so he may be scared thinking that this time will be more trouble for him, as well.

“You don’t have to be so rigid. I don’t have Mother with me right now, and I’m just here to talk to you,” I said.

“Yes!”

It’s useless…. he’s completely turned into a rank-and-file soldier. That’s not the general’s position either, is it…? Well, it’s fine.

“Actually, I came to see you today with the intention of appointing you to a position in our House,” I said.

“Yes…!” Janzicka replied energetically. Then, after a while, he looked dumbfounded, going, “Huh?”

He didn’t understand what I just said, so I explained for the time being, and after he’d processed that, he tilted his head in confusion. What is this? I think it’s a problem if he doesn’t understand what his superiors are saying and just replies with what you should have.

“You, General Janzicka, and about 700 other prisoners of war will be handed over to our House as human compensation from the Kingdom of Polsky,” I said. “So, if you are all willing, I’d like you all to work as our soldiers.”

Of course, I have no intention of forcibly hiring people who don’t like the idea and turning them into my military force. On the other hand, there is a possibility that those who want to be appointed too aggressively are also suspicious. I can’t let go of the possibility that they might be thinking of spying or trying to escape once they see an opportunity.

But if you keep saying that, you’ll have no choice but to keep the POWs in this camp forever, or force them to work under strict supervision. It’s too much waste.

There are about 700 soldiers in both the army and the navy, and how precious are the soldiers who have been trained to some extent…

It’s a Polsky-style training and military organization, so it’s different from our House’s army. It is necessary for them to receive training from our House, and it is not possible to immediately trust them completely and leave everything to them.

Still, 700 trained soldiers are very valuable. Considering that the initial units of the Caan-Carruthers Allied Forces in the last war were about 1,000 men, you can see how large that force is.

“You, you’re just going to trust us…?” Janzicka asked with an indescribable expression, of surprise or amazement.

Is it better to tell him what I really think rather than telling a lie here?

“No, I don’t fully trust you,” I said. “That’s what you’ll show through your actions from now on. However, I want to give you the opportunity. If possible, I want you to work to our House’s benefit. That is all.”

“If I may speak personally, I would like to rush to fill your appointment as soon as possible… However, I am also in charge of my soldiers,” Janzicka said. “I can’t just make decisions for all of us on my own.”

He said so in a manner befitting a general, completely changing from his odd attitude just now. Hearing that, I nodded.

“We will not make you do hard labor, treat you as slaves, or keep you in camps simply because you refuse to be promoted,” I said, looking Janzicka in the eyes. “We don’t always have to agree with everyone. Please, listen to their opinions and see if they will work with us or they will refuse.”

“Yes!” Janzicka replied, nodding vigorously as he looked me back in my eyes.

This is fine for now. It won’t work if you try to force it. On the other hand, there is no need for those who are only superficially patching things up. If people’s hearts and thoughts were more visible, there would be no scams or bad people…

Even if you think so, you can’t do it with a human body. Neither innocently believing in people’s goodness nor blindly doubting it is useless. In that case, at least be careful not to be deceived, and have no choice but to trust your eyes and act accordingly. Once you decide to believe, stick with it.

“Well then, General Janzicka, I’ll be back,” I said.

“Right! Until then, I will ask the others for their opinions,” Janzicka left.

And with that, I left the POW camp.

If the army increases by 500 men, the strength will increase at once. It won’t be possible until they’re trained and reorganized for House Caan’s Army, but even so, the increase in 500 trained soldiers is a big deal.

The same goes for 200 navy men. I can’t suddenly board them on a state-of-the-art ship… let alone an old-fashioned ship, but even so, 200 people are quite a lot. Just collecting those 200 Caan Sailors would be about the size of a galleon. Even if you can’t hand over a galleon to the former Polsky Navymen, it’s a big deal just to be able to recruit personnel for one ship from another ship.

However, the problem is that if the power of the old Polsky army men comes in at once, it will have a big impact on the factions within the Caan Knights Nation.

The Caan Knights Nation was originally a colony founded by Ploiss, but due to the course of history, a large number of Polskis also flowed into the country. As a result, the population is now overwhelmingly Polsky. From now on, we cannot ignore a large number of Polskis governing the Caan Knights Nation.

From now on, we will have to hire Polskis and use them heavily. At this time, in the earliest stages, if a large army of Polskis were suddenly formed in the military, there is a possibility that the Polskis would have an overwhelming advantage in future faction formation.

I can’t help but hire them, but it’s bad if they get too much power. We must create a system in which the Plossians and the Polskis can cooperate well. Goodness, it really hurts my head…

In the first place, even in the army, it would be a big deal if they deserted after teaching them how to handle artillery. It’s a problem if they leak to the enemy about our artillery. Even if you don’t have contact with artillery units, then where would you place them? That is the issue.

Even if you let them stick to the border like throwaway pawns, if someone were to escape, they would easily escape across national lines. Besides, if all the Polsky soldiers were gathered into one unit, there would be a possibility that they would all band together and start a rebellion. On the other hand, even if we divide the units into pieces and incorporate them into other units, it will be a problem if they are secretly agitating here and there.

I want to hire them and turn them into a force, but I’m afraid of betrayal and spies. But I can’t just put them in a POW camp and leave them alone… it’s hard to deal with people, isn’t it…?

And the last place I came to today is the most favorite one. I have instructed them to gather the people here today. That’s what I had prepared before I came to the Knights Nation. After all, it is no exaggeration to say that I came directly to the Knights Nation for this purpose.

“Everyone is ready,” one of the superiors said.

“Right. Thank you for your hard work,” I replied.

I exited the building, there were a lot of young people lined up in front of me. They were a little surprised to see me, but I don’t mind.

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“Today, you have come to my House at my invitation,” I said.

Confusion spreads in my words. I guess they panicked a little because a young girl like me said something.

Gathered here are the children of the former rulers of this area, the Eastern Colonies of Ploiss. In other words, they are the children of the Plossian nobles who ruled this land until Polsky took over the territory.

Why did I gather such people? From now on, even among these people, those who have some sort of promise will be sent to a school built by the Caan Knight’s Nation and have their talents nurtured.

The people here are young to slightly older, they are at most 20 years old. I want to recruit people from among them to serve in our House and make them work. But suddenly hiring an inexperienced person is useless. On the other hand, it is impossible to say that you should come after studying on your own and becoming useful without support.

In modern Japan, people are hired based on what school they graduated from and what qualifications they have. In addition, you will be able to study and work in accordance with your direction by studying such things and acquiring qualifications from elsewhere.

But in this world, it is difficult. Aristocratic children will inherit their family’s education for generations from their parents. But if you want to learn something else, you will need a lot of effort and money. Also, it is not possible to learn such specialized knowledge in the first place except for those who have a family lineage with such skills.

The Plossian Nobles of the Eastern Colonies would have fallen into ruin after being occupied by Polsky, and would have lost the knowledge and skills of those families. So, I’m thinking of building a school in the Caan Knights Nation and enrolling former nobles as students there.

In the future, as long as they have talent, I would like to enroll those who cannot afford to study due to financial or familial circumstances. But for now, I will choose from among the people gathered here who seem to be excellent already.

It seems that the people gathered were also surprised because I was talking like a boss, but no one made a fuss, probably because they were children of former nobles.

I didn’t explain my real name or position to them. Just tell them that today’s interviewer is me, and interview them one by one. Among them, there were some people who were interested.

“I am Eduard von Schonhausen.”

The people I’ve interviewed so far include those who seem overconfident, those who seem somewhat unsure and anxious, those who have a proven track record, and those who seem to have the potential to grow in the future. But there was something different about this young Eduard.

“Why did you apply for this recruitment?” I asked.

“This country… I want to make it strong so that it will never be ruled by others again!” Eduard yelled.

Oh……? How fiery. It’s not just about overconfidence or self-promotion. There must have been a lot of hardships during Polsky’s era. He’s burning hot. No matter how talented you are, if you don’t have this kind of spirit, you won’t succeed. His fate has not been decided.

After that, I continued with Eduard’s interview, and after gaining confidence in him, I went on to do interviews one after another. and…….

“I am Bernhard von Moltok. A pleasure to meet you.”

A lack of self-confidence……. that’s not it. If you don’t look well, you’d think that he lacks that, but if you look closely, he’s just a quiet young man. However, when I looked at this young man, it was kind of creepy, or rather, he looked very big and eerie to me.

“Why did you apply for this recruitment?” I asked.

“Under the occupation of the Kingdom of Polsky, we were forced to live in poverty… and to prevent other people from living like that… to tell you the truth, there is a spark in my mind right now. I want to study, research, and perfect that spark.”

Haha, this guy…

“Is that so? I understand. You may leave now.”

“Huh?”

“Yes.”

The other people who were present at the interview looked surprised, but Bernhard left his seat with a calm face. Normally, if he just gave his name and was told to leave, he would think that he had been dropped and would bite back. Even so, to leave the room so peacefully…

I’m glad I came to the interview this time. There are some interesting people in the Caan Knights Nation, aren’t they? I’m really looking forward to it.