Chapter 215: Unexpected Crises

Chapter 215: Unexpected Crises

‘Is the world intentionally trying to push me into a crisis?’ After encountering a disaster that made me think this, I decided to clean my ears.

Because I wanted to believe that the nonsensical sounds I heard were due to too much earwax in my ears.

“Lieutenant Hawkman, it seems I’ve heard some absurd sounds because I haven’t been able to clean my ears for a few days. Could you bring me some water to wash them right now?”

Hearing this, the Lieutenant went to fetch water for me to wash my ears with a bewildered expression, while General Kaitel in front of me sighed and shook his head.

Meanwhile, he, who had treated me only with official relations based on discipline and principles until now, hardly showing any human emotion, patted my shoulder with a look of full understanding and said,

“General Yaeger, everything you’ve heard is true. Leading a thousand northern light cavalry to raid the main camp and greatly demoralize the enemy is a significant achievement, and it’s embarrassing to hear such words from you, who just returned. This is a document sent directly from the Imperial Foreign Ministry. It seems you still can’t believe it, so I will show you a copy of the document.”

With those words, the Captain handed me a copy of the document, and I immediately started to read it.

[To the commander of the Reich Empire’s Stockholm expeditionary force, General Gerhardt von Kaitel.

Three days after the expeditionary force left the North for Stockholm, Grand Duchess Irina von Augusto of the Warsaw Duchy and the Crown Prince of Stockholm held their wedding ceremony.

As a result, the two countries formed a marital alliance and signed a mutual defense treaty.

At the same time, the Warsaw Duchy declared it unacceptable for the Reich Empire to invade Stockholm, the country of their son-in-law, and criticized His Majesty the Emperor for wrongfully accusing the innocent Chieftain Istvan of treason, an act against humanity.

Based on this, the Imperial Intelligence Service estimates that Sweske will send reinforcements of at least 30,000 to a maximum of 50,000 troops to Stockholm.

Furthermore, it is deeply hoped for understanding that due to the Duchies of Morenzia and Belgium in the west mobilizing 80,000 troops to attack the western part of the Empire, aiming at the Empire’s crisis, there might be disruptions in military supplies.

By Count Benchel Zwei von Kaunitz, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Imperial Foreign Ministry.]

Fortunately, the Swedia scoundrels had not broken their promise to attack northern Stockholm, excusing themselves for being unable to deploy soldiers.

No. With our forces at merely 110,000 and the enemy’s at 200,000, according to the beautiful diplomatic rules of this era, one might say,

‘Ah, dear Reich Empire. We also need to survive. Forget everything; we don’t know about any alliance. So, seeing as your back looks tempting, we’re going to take a swing at it.’

Then, I would be in a position so desperate that I could really go mad with frustration.

Specifically, the decree promised the same treatment as the serfs who had lived in the empire for a long time in return for taking on military duties.

Since one of the conditions for receiving such treatment was to win this expedition, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

But how could that be utilized to not just maintain but also increase supplies?

“That’s why, having met with Lieutenant Colonel Kerzhit and other northerners before, I found they have the passion to do anything for equal treatment with the citizens of the empire. So, we decided to levy a special tax on the northerners that wouldn’t be too burdensome. We’ll collect deer, wolf, and bear skins through this special tax, sell them all to the empire’s merchants, and then use that money to buy military supplies like grain, weapons, armor, and horses. This way, even if the General Staff decides to cut down on the supplies, we can continue to provide them without issue.”

“Even if they wish for the empire’s victory, wouldn’t there be various problems with levying additional taxes?”

Excessive taxation easily leads to rebellion.

This was because the sense of deprivation that would arise when one’s earnings were taxed beyond a reasonable level would quickly turn into defiance.

“In other provinces, the commander of the Northern Army oversees both administrative and military affairs, right? So, there won’t be any legal issues with increasing taxes using the authority I, the superior, hold. Moreover, the northerners want to be recognized by the empire, so we’re merely giving them an opportunity to contribute.”

“Are you saying they need to show dedication to be recognized?”

“Also, if we win this war, I’ve promised to allocate a part of the reparations to repay them. In cash, about 1.3 times the price of the skins we buy.”

“If the empire wins and repays them 1.3 times in cash, all northerners will truly be loyal to the empire.”

However, if General Kaitel and I were to lose, we’d both be damned by the northerners for levying a useless tax.

Not doing what needed to be done now and losing as a result would be a billion times worse than this strategy.

“By the way, where do you think this battle will take place, in your opinion?”

“Shouldn’t we draw the enemy to us? In that sense...”

Saying that, I pointed to a spot on the map and said,

“Osby Plains. Fighting at Osby would be best.”