Episode 169: What is the empire's plan?
After my meeting with Funseroa ended, I was thinking about what he had said.
What Funseroa said can be roughly divided into two parts.
First, while the Empire is at war with the Knights, don't invade the Empire's territory.
Second, be careful of Sarcasimo's movements.
As for the first one, I can understand it.
By daring to keep this in mind, in the event that Rocha's army enters the Empire's territory, this fact will be used as a reason for an invasion.
Despite the empire's great power, it doesn't just go to war against the surrounding countries because it doesn't have a good reason, or the knightly nations with comparable strength will seriously attack them. Body.
However, the fact is that if there is a good cause, the knightly kingdom will not stick its beak at you.
Therefore, there is no doubt that Funseroa made the first statement as a preparation for a territorial invasion.
However, when you think about it that way, a mystery arises in the second statement.
It is true that Sarcasimo was taken in by the empire's plans. There's no point in Funseroa lying about this part.
And that the manipulated Sarcasimo will take some action and force soldiers to invade the empire's territory. The Empire begins an invasion of Nonette due to the fact that soldiers have entered the country.
This flow is predictable if you consider it in conjunction with Funseroa's first statement.
I have one question here.
If Funseroia had kept quiet about Salcasimo, I wouldn't have been able to predict the Empire's plans.
In other words, Funseroa's second statement was beneficial to us, but from the Empire's perspective, it was a bad move that could derail the plan.
However, it is unimaginable that Funseroa, who has become a top bureaucrat in a large country called the Empire, would accidentally release such information inadvertently. During the meeting, Funseroa's demeanor was calm throughout, and there was no sign that he had made a mistake.
Then, when I think about why he gave me information that would cause the plan to fail, all I can think of is that it would be inconvenient for Funseroia if this plan were to come to fruition.
But that's still weird.
It is said that territorial expansion is the empire's national policy.
In fact, they would make neighboring countries debt-ridden and make them vassals, they would use trickery to create reasons for war, and they would take down one country just to surround it with imperial territory in order to block off the trade of Nonette country. I'm also doing it.
Why did First Consul Funseroa do something that went against the national policy?
This was the mystery.
I felt like I couldn't figure out the reason even if I thought about it myself, so I decided to ask other people for their opinions.
However, the results were not good.
"There's no way I can understand what Senpai doesn't understand."
Honneth gave me a wry smile.
"I was born in a knightly kingdom, so I don't understand the Empire's thinking. I'm sorry."
``It's natural that we don't understand, because we have been at war for many years because our ideologies are fundamentally incompatible.''
Parvera apologized apologetically, and the family assured her in a tone that told the obvious truth.
"It's common for the Empire to do things that don't make sense."
"It's hard to understand what's going on in the minds of the people in the Empire."
"If I had known, I wouldn't have tried to provoke Prince Milimos into war."
I went around asking officials, members of the research department, and soldiers in the military, but I mostly received the same responses.
When I felt like I was at an impasse, I decided to meet Atenza and Giberde.
It wasn't that I had any particular expectations for the two of them, it was simply that we had a date for a regular meeting.
While drinking the tea I was served, when I brought up the matter of Funseroa, Giberde visibly furrowed his eyebrows.
``Even though you're meeting a beautiful woman like me, why would you choose to talk about work?''
"Hey, Giverde. I'm sorry, Prince Milimos."
"No, it's fine. It was my fault for forgetting that women don't like stories about work that men talk about."
I regret that it wasn't the right topic to talk about with hostages.
That's when I noticed that Giverde's expression changed from one of discomfort to one of pride.
"Hmph. Prince Milimos doesn't understand why Funseroia did something that goes against the national policy."
“That’s true, but does Miss Giverde understand?”
"Of course. She's a hostage now, but she's still a princess of the desert royal family."
When I was tilting my head wondering why the princess would understand the reason, Giberde proudly began to explain.
"Simply put, it's a political maneuver."
"I don't understand what you mean?"
I wonder why Funseroia would convey information that would damage the interests of the empire in a game against the Nonette country.
As if denying my thoughts, Giberde's expression became even more proud.
"Prince Milimos seems to have a misunderstanding."
"It's common for me to be wrong, but in what areas?"
“I think of Funseroia as the representative of the empire – to put it another way, I think of him as the only representative of the will of the empire.”
When I didn't understand what he was saying, a more detailed explanation came.
"The empire is a large country. That's why it is difficult for the emperor's will alone to penetrate the empire to the very end. Therefore, a wide variety of officials and soldiers become the king's arms and legs, and the nation's I'll handle the management for you."
"I can understand that. Funseroa's busy running around as first-class consul is part of that, isn't it?"
"Yes. That's the first consul."
“What makes that so?”
“Prince Milimos subconsciously believes that the only first consul is a person called Funseroia.”
When I heard him say that, I nodded, thinking that I understood.
“The First Consul is just a position, so it wouldn’t be surprising if there were other people with the same position.”
I had forgotten about this.
Apparently, in my head, I had a fixed idea of first-class consul = Funseroia.
``Then when you say bargaining, you were referring to Funseroia and the other first consuls.''
"That's right. As I said earlier, the empire is huge. Along with that, the number of officials must also be huge. And when there are three people, factions are born. It is.”
“In other words, Miss Giverde thinks that a faction that is not on good terms with Funceroia is manipulating Brother Salcasimo.”
When you explain it like that, it makes sense.
However, there is one question.
"It must have been Funseroa's plan to send the daughter of an imperial aristocrat as a bride to the royal family of Nonette Country. Isn't it strange that someone else is in charge?"
"It's not strange. He was originally planning on making the noble's daughter Prince Milimos."
“I refused, and King Chorex asked me to make him my brother Salkajimo’s wife.”
"Then the story is simple. I failed to get Prince Milimos to marry him. I used this point as an attack and suggested that there were doubts about the ability of the person called Funseroia to carry out the plan. He stole the initiative."
“…Isn’t that an absurd method?”
"Not really. It seems that in countries where this kind of conspiracy has a long history and is rich, there is a tendency for officials to rise up through secret battles like this."
Oh my god, just hearing about it makes me feel sad.
“Leaving aside the fact that the relationship between the imperial officials is mushy, I believe that Funseroa passed the information on to us because she didn’t want the rival faction to take the credit. That's my opinion.''
"Exactly. But if I were to add a possibility, it might be because Funseroia thinks there is no point in attacking and defeating the Nonette country."
“Is there no point? Even though we can expand our territory?”
“It is true that we can expand our territory. However, the Empire and the Nonette country, especially the Roccia region, maintain good relations in terms of trade. I doubt it's necessary to pay a lot of money. Moreover, this plan is being launched during a war with a knightly kingdom. I'm sure the finance officials will look bitter."
In short, if you weigh the profits gained from trading with the Rocha region and the profits you would receive after conquering the Rocha region after deducting the war costs you paid, it's a matter of which side you would lean towards.
“If you think about it that way, what Funseroa expects from me is to destroy the reason for the imperial army to invade Nonette country beforehand.”
“If we can't get a good cause, the Empire won't be able to invade, and as a result, we won't have to pay for the war.”
Now I can see what I should do.
“Anyway, I was a little surprised that Miss Giverde knows so much about politics.”
"What? You thought I was an idiot!"
"I'm sorry. My expression was bad just now."
Embarrassed that I had tried to make it sound like a joke, I straightened up and sat down.
"Miss Giverde was a big help. I haven't been educated as a prince, so I don't know much about politics. So, I may need to consult you on political matters in the future, so I'd appreciate your help when that time comes."
When I lowered the bullet and asked, Giberde turned to face Atenza and started gesturing.
When I raised my head a little to see what that gesture meant, Giberde hurriedly returned to his normal state. However, for some reason, there was a smile on his lips.
"Well, if Prince Milimos asks that much, I can't help it. I'll continue to consult with you in the future."
"It would be helpful if you could do that. Well then, I'll be busy from now on, so I'll excuse myself now. Ah, the tea and sweets were delicious. Thank you as always."
I say thank you and leave the room.
Then, about ten seconds after walking down the hallway, I heard the sound of the door to the room where Atenza and Giverde were in closing, and then I heard the sound of "Yay!" ' A voice could be heard penetrating the door and wall.
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