Chapter 44
pySejKQThe Great Agreement.QIRVQ
zx65It is a set of rules to be respected on the battlefield, but it is neither a formal treaty nor written law.tABZ
5mKIt’s merely a recommendation proclaimed by the founder of the Empire and its first emperor.neG4
kSzHowever, the weight carried by this Great Agreement is immense.UWs
J4b‘After all, the emperor himself upheld it to the very end.’Xe5kB
2B5QWThough it’s called the Great Agreement, its contents are nothing extraordinary—no use of poison, no assassinations, no feigning surrender to launch a surprise attack, honoring treaties once signed, and so on.huyWn9Z
ySmvQnThere are various points, but in essence, it is about maintaining a minimum level of trust even during war.IyPZ
4ahWr2Because if even that minimal line is crossed, war becomes infinitely more horrific.ARzOX52
WXh488H‘The problem is that all of this is still just a recommendation.’9ZIExw
fC83aNo matter how significant a norm may be, if someone decides to break it intentionally, there’s little that can be done.ste0
YoNQ8SeThat’s precisely why the Great Agreement was never made into written law.glSbPP
o0suXIf the enemy chooses not to respect it, what good would a legal code do?LJ7ry
LSCJ“No matter how superior our numbers and troop quality may be, or how well we know enemy terrain, we are marching into the heart of Kreppelt. The moment they decide to break the Great Agreement and use everything at their disposal, not only will a swift victory be impossible—it will become a chaotic and gruesome war.”xcCZZUX
0HBHY“Kreppelt breaking the Great Agreement? Nonsense. You accuse me of being too optimistic, but it seems you’re the one detached from reality.”KZ3oOHD
zwXGMarquis Bernhardt Roglan scoffed as he looked down at Lucian, as if doubting he even understood the meaning of the Great Agreement.NUNKmId
GQDJAJK“Tell me, do you know why the Great Agreement continues to be honored even after hundreds of years? Because the moment one side breaks it, hell is unleashed. And that hell hits the weak much harder than the strong.”jHM
oLfgH8YIt’s true that by using unrestricted dirty tactics, the weak might resist the strong—for a time.Tfkl
QV0MivjBut that’s only temporary resistance.ZgMJAX
XV98If both sides employ equally vile means, the stronger party always holds the advantage.CJcE5
2lhm83ZThey have more resources, more options, and can strike from multiple fronts.CWDnU
4Vq3vZHow could the weak possibly hold out?LLuQ
Yh4“And not only that. The Great Agreement also acts as a brake that prevents the victor from mercilessly crushing the defeated.r3JM
NOwgIf the loser respected the Great Agreement, the winner must also show mercy.”KV23OCt
NqMMUpholding the Great Agreement is proof that, even when they could’ve resorted to despicable means, they preserved human decency to the end.zTUh
mXZ2That’s why even the victor can’t treat the loser however they like and must issue the most lenient punishment possible.07a2
V7og7If the crime warranted execution, assets are confiscated; if it warranted exterminating the bloodline, only the direct perpetrator is executed and it ends there.H0c
6ycBE5Ignoring these unwritten rules and punishing too harshly often resulted in scorn from the entire Empire.XA2xdQb
oP0“To break the Great Agreement is to forsake even that minimal protection. And you think Kreppelt, being the weaker side, would do that just to win once? That’s an entirely needless worry.”abWQ
KUI1x“Because even if they lose, the Empire would still have the strength to march against Kreppelt again?”w3hTo
ub7Y“Would it not? The Empire will not waver from failing once in suppressing a rebellion.”Uk2X
qDphThey might break the Great Agreement once and defeat the allied army.EcAxe
kCHlSDBut afterward, with no protection left, they would be crushed by a second or third expedition.2UJH
Ra2b0And then they would be shown no mercy.F2WPC3
pEi0fBThat was the marquis’s logic—anyone with a shred of sense would know it’s not worth it.3uhMUpT
evNCglbThe imperial crown prince also nodded at those words.gis
Lar“Seems the discussion is settled. Anyone else have something to add? That… the duke’s representative…”4B6
6d6d“Brother, it’s Lucian.”qIm
oSH“Ah, right. Sir Lucian. If you have no further objections, I’d like to end the council.”A2u6U
m949LAs if just remembering, the crown prince nodded at the second prince’s prompt.EuH4W
dlV9DTo deny the marquis’s words now would be tantamount to denying the Empire’s strength itself.Oq68R4
3E51IJHowever, Lucian shook his head.w1Jc
EKtuhw“It’s true that the Empire won’t fall from a single defeat. But if uprisings break out everywhere at once, will we truly have the strength to march on Kreppelt again?”KMexno
rUm“What do you mean?”oaqVCNv
mPXObEw“That if we lose even once, regardless of the Great Agreement being broken or not, rebellions could erupt in all directions. In that case, Kreppelt would have no reason to respect the Great Agreement either.”yTp
80kAfter all, if they manage to defeat the imperial army even once, they might retain their independence.iBbta
3z1Meanwhile, the Empire would be stuck in a quagmire from one defeat, without the means to send another allied force.EQoFStk
KcAU“And more importantly, Marquis—you spoke of a ‘perfect excuse,’ but since when do perfect excuses exist in this world? A rebellion is a gamble with the life of a dynasty and its ruling elite. There’s no sense in starting one just to test the Empire’s strength.”uMmxj
QUFVg8“So you’re saying, by risking everything, they wouldn’t hesitate to use any means. That sounds excessively pessimistic to me.”CEZ8
hx76qK“And to me, it sounds like you’re still far too optimistic. You take it for granted that everything will go the Empire’s way.”jZ0PN8t
Dxl9S“And you take the worst-case scenario for granted.”2Xd6
6o2“I was always taught to consider the worst case.”WVMKGh
dsEm68“Preparing for the unexpected isn’t the same as being paralyzed by fear.”GZJ
fUwhL“Enough, enough, enough!”MyJWCPz
9DvoBang, bang, bang!ZXiaHQ
Ng2XnThe crown prince slammed the armrests of his chair.mxbrEZ
cSmtzAs silence fell, he glared back and forth between Lucian and the marquis.yrZWu
vzBW59S“Did I ask you here to argue? Have you forgotten that I’m the one in charge?”HNGYb2i
yAMb58“My apologies.”oRK2vP2
yz3c“I beg your forgiveness.”OUSku
1IRLucian and the marquis bowed their heads in unison.RTSI
GWeEThe crown prince accepted their apologies calmly but shot Lucian one last look before speaking.2oHu
SKgoqz“And watch your words. The Empire is not that weak.”rFzj
2cvZ“If my words were offensive, I apologize. But since this concerns war—a matter of vital importance to the state—I can’t help but consider the worst case.”hlrGnI8
1bA6b“Oh really? How admirably loyal of you.”Sdr
Gh3VVThe crown prince sneered, but seeing Lucian not back down, he clicked his tongue and looked around.XRpNP7k
3l9D6V“Seems we have two stances. Marquis Bernhardt Roglan’s quick victory, and Sir Lucian’s extreme caution. Which do you believe is better?”RmDGN
N2F“……”6DSi
jSUYRZPAt the crown prince’s question, the nobles fell silent, glancing between Roglan and Lucian.xcFSs
J758TBut the silence didn’t last long.roN
ecMbX“I believe the marquis’s opinion carries a bit more weight.”KwOT
t9Z9o“Sir Lucian’s reasoning is valid, but in terms of experience…”U4wt
mcF“We can always switch strategies if they break the Great Agreement.”SEPJzYU
f91HJuNHearing the opinions tilt in his favor, Marquis Bernhardt Roglan looked at Lucian with a triumphant expression.iPwg
xY6MqThe crown prince also tilted his head, as if asking what Lucian would do now.CmVAqe
hXM“Seems the scales tip toward the marquis.”fUfm
LpWXKx“I merely offer counsel as a subject. The decision lies with Your Highness.”e7kC
fvo“Then let’s go along with it and adopt the rapid victory strategy.”pHItTs
heJ“If that is Your Highness’s will.”byXB6D
iVACESeeing Lucian accept calmly, the First Prince smiled slightly and raised his voice.n9NtG
Him“The strategy is decided! We will march swiftly to Kreppelt’s capital and show those dogs the power of the Empire.”DhFIh
mz0qB2g***cE3
2cJ30After the war council ended, Lucian let out a sigh as he walked back to his tent.wp9h
2HdubHe had hoped at least someone would take him seriously, but he hadn’t expected no one to.cqN2Fx
vpzk6“How pathetic.”42z7Ny
RITHPZ“Don’t be too disheartened.”CB70KCN
bLc4FsHearing Lucian’s sigh, Raymond approached to console him.fqZeQ7
XTiThough he hadn’t participated in the war council, as Lucian’s escort he had been close to the tent and had heard everything that was said inside.YB0B
CIMa“The strategy you proposed makes sense, young master, but for everyone else, it was too radical. It’s only natural they sided with the orthodox solution presented by the marquis.”5ZlNqL
w2ZHOA“What the hell are you talking about? Orthodox? What’s so orthodox about it?”bGQ2l
hRHc“The one to end the war quickly, of course. Isn’t it common sense that the sooner a war ends, the better?”8B1v0xU
Cr2At those words, Lucian blinked, then let out a soft laugh.mpL5d
ysXThen, as if explaining something to a child, he began to speak calmly.cPv
AdOFCV“Do you know who’s paying for this campaign?”0QYZQ
ipg“Isn’t it Marquis Bernhardt? I heard he had to take on the cost because of the incident involving you, young master.”5GOoonm
rurZ“Then who saves the most money if the war ends quickly?”Kpiyw3
uknzXHx”…!”bcoH
rvkB39At that, Raymond’s eyes widened.9csj8FK
aKwghEaHe had thought they were discussing the most logical military strategy, but was it really just a way for the marquis to save his own money?U4HFn3g
n34DI“Then what was the point of that talk about showing the Empire’s magnanimity by granting clemency?”KRAXIR
ffwjpI“If the royal family of Kreppelt disappears, chaos will follow. Even if there’s no open war, the army will have to stay longer to maintain order. And the longer they stay, the more money the marquis will have to pay.”hcfjR
eEw“So the reason the other lords supported the marquis’s opinion was…?”NGN
mRBOl“Even if I’m a representative, I’m still just a third son—not even the heir—compared to an actual head of a noble house. If those two clash, who do you think most will support? Unless a house is overwhelmingly powerful, they’ll almost always side with the latter.”IqtiqZU
S1YdORaymond stared at Lucian, stunned.SPy
lnr6iYHe had thought that since it was Lucian’s first war council, he hadn’t read the room and got swept up by pressure.WEl
avmBKBut now it seemed he was the one who hadn’t understood anything.0lmmh9
QNbVc2K“Actually, regardless of the marquis’s real intentions, it was a perfect policy for the First Prince. A swift victory means proving the commander’s capability. I’m sure he wanted to use this chance to earn prestige.”eoBi4mw
sVoG“So this decision was made purely for political reasons?”pc2c0OK
tUGRI“Well, I suppose my proposal did sound outlandish. From the perspective of the lords, the marquis’s plan seemed much more realistic.”RQPxLy
kBbTLucian understood.IteGe8Y
uXxvvfnThe Great Agreement had been upheld for centuries.zHC
vkXueVWNo one would even consider the possibility that it might be broken now.LWJi
b0pQ“But the real problem is that, in this war, the Great Agreement will be broken.”THOAgkT
0aFKThIn his past life, the Kreppelt rebellion was so well known that no one was unaware of it.x8c2A
nSfkiIENot because Kreppelt had defeated the Empire, nor because it was later wiped out in retribution, but because it was the first time the Great Agreement—long considered an unquestionable rule—was completely violated.SmE
I9dzXUWhen people asked where the era of chaos had begun, everyone pointed to the Kreppelt rebellion.R7p
EUAKe“In the end, a few years later, honoring the Great Agreement came to be seen as the mark of a fool.”sYZWE
5jaE8tA bitter smile appeared on Lucian’s lips.CnM
mxvD9In a way, this was the starting point of all future tragedies.OIEkw2F
lOMHcAt first, since he had come this far, he thought of minimizing casualties for the allied army.qIDL
ZcHZjBut now that they had adopted the marquis’s plan, Lucian would have no room to intervene.UK1l
yfyyEAt best, he could protect the troops he had brought with him.4js
kQcZTbh“Well, it can’t be helped.”8g51
A9sYOHe had given them more than enough chances.6Lcinq
n9jMVYIf they had rejected that opportunity out of their own ambition, all that remained was for them to pay the price.yX0nWJf
6y8Besides, Lucian had nothing to lose from this.Q5cu
jkDIdeas others don’t understand are often dismissed as nonsense—but the moment they’re proven right, the eccentric becomes a prophet.HYh
wmgw‘I wonder what kind of faces they’ll make when it turns out I was right.’MSsDOFs
sjmr7KWith a cold smile, Lucian turned his gaze toward the tent where the war council had just been held.D5bjNLG
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!