Chapter 173: In War, It Is Important To Deceive The Enemy (2)
Even the Crown Prince, but the Emperors expectant expression was even more burdensome.
Moreover, the one who always had a politically calculated expression when dealing with all his subjects now had such a content expression that it was almost scary.
Whats this? Why was he smiling as if he was about to give away his own daughter?
Besides, what Ive thought is that Your Highness could focus on selecting capable junior officers and administrators of commoner origin. Although I caught Your Highnesss eye through my actions at the Raintlant Front, if it hadnt been for Your Highnesss support from that time until now, I would never have been able to reach my current position.
I might have risen to a rank significantly faster than other noble officers, but I wouldnt have been able to advance as I have until now.
Because for an orphan of commoner origin like me, appropriate opportunities wouldnt have come so easily.
Given your abilities, you would have eventually reached this position despite the limitations of being a commoner. However, it would have taken at least another 10 years to become a lieutenant colonel.
Thank you for your high regard, Your Majesty. Then, please consider this; even now, there are commoners who have graduated from the academy who, despite being more capable than officers of noble birth, are somewhat disadvantaged. If Your Highness continues to select such individuals based on their abilities, the Empires military will gain many more excellent commanders.
Counts and higher nobility might be a bit displeased, but its true that viscounts and barons, who have voting rights in the Emperors election, are somewhat behind in promotions compared to the highest nobility. So, those fellows might think, If even commoners are employed based on their abilities, how much better treatment and opportunities could I receive? and thus, they would try to align themselves with the Crown Prince.
As His Majesty mentioned, humans have such psychology.
If that worse guy has a girlfriend, theres no reason for me to live single. If I do as he does, I could get an even prettier girlfriend. Its not that Im single because I cant, but because I havent tried.
Seeing commoners being selected, the heads of knight families and lower-ranked nobles, such as barons and baronets, would likely think the same.
They might consider changing their support to a different faction for the future of their family and the advancement of their children.Updated from n0velb(i)n.c(o)/m
The Emperor nodded at my words and then asked in a dubious voice.
But if the Crown Prince selects commoners and consoles the bereaved families, wouldnt the other princes do the same?
Even if they followed suit, it wouldnt harm the Empire. Moreover, by seeking talent among the much larger number of commoners and lower nobility, we may soon find commanders who surpass me. And after all, what will be most remembered is that the Crown Prince was the first to try all this, isnt it?
I asked for a plan to increase the Crown Princes position, and youve come up with a way to benefit the Empires development. Thats truly remarkable.
Well, it was obvious.
Because I was a soldier and of commoner origin, I did not know methods, such as whom to bribe or which nobles to tie through political marriages to improve my position.
I could only think that the best strategy to win the Emperors election was to demonstrate how much it could help the Empire.
However, these alone couldnt overturn the assessment that His Majesty lacked critical military capability.
But this is not enough because the next Emperor, the Crown Prince, must prove his military capability.
The Emperor, as if waiting for me to say just that, leaned back in his chair and looked at me with wide eyes.
Do you have any thoughts? If you choose an appropriate location, I will definitely appoint you as the deputy commander in the Crown Princes next war.
The title was deputy commander, but in reality, it was a position with the same level of authority and responsibility as a commander-in-chief.
What I had always wanted to achieve and longed for was now within my grasp.
My heart was pounding, but now was the time to stay calm.
The reason I had survived so far was because I had always prioritized the interests of the Empire.
I am not making this suggestion to gain their gratitude and strengthen my position. However, its a bit difficult to say, but those five former lieutenants were harshly punished for taking responsibility for carrying out His Highnesss orders.
Thats right. Its a pity for such bright and capable young people.
So, in a way, its appropriate for Your Highness to take responsibility for them. Its about showing publicly that Your Highness is giving them another chance. This will earn you a reputation as a monarch who takes care of his close associates to the end, even if they lose their value and fall into disgrace.
After listening to me, His Majesty looked at me blankly for a moment and then said,
Alright, lets do as you wish. However, the confidential information to be leaked in the intelligence operation will be treated as top secret, and you will report directly to me in writing before the operation begins.
I will follow your orders.
After finishing the conversation, Emperor Fernando of the Empire thought,
I never intended to check on General Yaeger, who is almost a benefactor of the Empire. Instead, I planned to let him continue to spread his wings and advance.
However, what the Emperor had in mind was just to get rid of those who were clinging to him in an attempt to gain political power.
No, he even planned to distance a girl who followed him with no such intentions at all.
Lieutenant Colonel Kerzhit may not be as smart as General Yaeger, but shes a very intelligent woman. And she is central to the Empires acquisition and maintenance of the northern territories. In the future, when the northern territories become livable within decades, I should enfeoff her as a countess there. Then, even after my death, the North will not leave the Empire.
The Emperor personally felt quite a bit of regret.
Because, in the social circles, General Yaeger was the only one unaware of the gossip, being the most oblivious to matters of love among the Empires nobility.
He knew well that Lieutenant Colonel Kerzhit, who cherished the North more than anyone, refrained from marrying for political gains solely because of her desire to bear the Generals child.
Thats why I had to separate them. If those two came together, the Yaeger family would gain too strong a foundation. I thought I had to check them.
Then the Emperor chuckled.
Because, when General Yaeger talked about the conquest of Ostarica, he proposed sharing the position of the Crown Princes confidant, which he could have monopolized alone, with five former lieutenants for the sake of national interest.
Thinking of the Empire beyond any self-interest.
He thought it foolish to doubt someone who, as a General, stood at the front for the Empire and killed as many as 200 enemies.
Thus, having ceased his doubts, the Emperor wanted to make General Yaeger even more devoted to the Empire.
Honestly, even excluding his influence as a noble, General Yaegers worth is equivalent to that of a ducal family. It would be good to bring him into the family outright. Moreover, according to the imperial special law, when a princess marries a man with a lawful wife, both the princess and the wife are recognized as equal lawful wives.
Therefore, the Emperor was grateful for the law that could make Yaeger completely his own without taking away the position of the lawful wife from the daughter of his loyal subject, Duke Benner.
My daughter Louise will also turn 20 the year after next and needs to marry. Since she was young, she always said, I want to marry someone like a knight in shining armor from a fairy tale! and has made every effort to become a woman suitable for such a knight. I can fulfill that dream for her. She will surely like it.
However, there was one concern in the Emperors mind.
That was
The only thing is that General Yaeger is too conservative, keeping a personal maid that everyone lays hands on once they become a general. Moreover, she blatantly sends signals of being in love. However, the General only thinks of her as a loyal subordinate Can Louise do well?