545 – Purple Coronet, Blue Blood – 4

After experiencing the double tragedy of her mother’s pregnancy and then Rize’s pregnancy, Leon’s business trip began.

Of course, I don’t know if it’s okay to call going to work in the morning and leaving in the evening a business trip, but wouldn’t a business trip be a business trip if you work in a space other than your existing workplace ? This is a serious matter that requires separate travel allowance.

“This is Josef Renner, commander of the 6th Corps. It is an honor to meet you, Mr. Minister.”

As if I was not alone in thinking this, the commander of the 6th Corps, who was appointed commander of the Leon Expeditionary Force, also greeted me with determined eyes.

“I too am honored to join forces with you, Commander. I wanted to say hello to you soon, and this is how I get to meet you.”

When I smiled and asked the 6th Corps commander to shake his hand, the 6th Corps commander’s expression brightened.

My heart must be pounding because the title commander, not corps commander, came out of my mouth. In his mind, he is probably dreaming of a rosy future in which he will become an official commander of the local forces, rather than a temporary position as commander of the Leon Expeditionary Force.

And fortunately, that future is scheduled to become a reality soon.

‘I was scheduled for promotion anyway.’

The commander of the 6th Corps seems to think that he will become a commander based on his experience his in overseas expeditions, but he was entrusted with overseas expeditions because he is a talent who is scheduled to become a commander. After listening to the conversation between the emperor and Jeon Seung-gong, I found out that the commander of the 6th corps was scheduled to be promoted to commander of the local army.

Even though it is a southern district army, not an eastern one, so what? Commander is the actual final rank that imperial soldiers desperately desire.

“During the expedition, I will also work hard as a member of the expedition force, so please be kind to me.”

“Haha, that sounds like something I’d say, but I’ll keep it in mind.”

Anyway, the 6th Corps Commander, whose promotion was suddenly confirmed, still nodded with a bright expression.

If you look at it from a distance, it may seem a bit strange. Because the expeditionary force inspector, who must keep his command in check, and the expeditionary force commander, who must suffer from checks, are smiling happily together.

However, I am not really here to keep things in check, and even if it is really for the purpose of keeping people in check, people in high positions know each other just a little bit. It’s best to smile as much as possible.

The atmosphere of the expeditionary force was very bright in proportion to the expression of the 6th Corps commander.

Basically, the fate of a group is that when the boss is in a bad mood, the subordinates get nervous, and when the boss coughs, the subordinates get upset. However, since the highest superior, the 6th Corps commander, became commander (jin), the atmosphere of the expeditionary force was bound to be gentle.

Of course, it is not good for the army that will soon cross the border to have a loose atmosphere, but the Leon Kingdom Expeditionary Force was organized as a corps belonging to the Eastern Army. In terms of training and morale, they are the best troops in the empire, so there is no need to worry about military discipline.

“The Margrave of Dalihaten has surrendered. He promised unconditional cooperation, thanking His Majesty for his grace in setting up a milestone for the lost border nobles once again.”

“The Marquis of Barossel, Count Tomiana, and Count Hosen also expressed the same sentiment. They declared that they would join the imperial army to overcome the kingdom’s crisis.”

Crucially, this expedition is one in which the possibility of an armed conflict occurring is extremely low.

That’s right, the Kingdom of Leon needs to have a focal point to stop the large-scale entry of the imperial army, but the current Leon royal family is as good as dead already. But does that mean that a nobleman carries a gun on behalf of the royal family? No matter how you turn the happiness circuit, it is impossible to stop the empire with the power of the nobles alone, and if you rebel for no reason and the empire gets angry, your life and property will be at risk.

So what should we do? If you choose an option that is 100% guaranteed to lead to downfall, you have to risk bowing your head. As the Empire also came with the justification of establishing a new royal family rather than conquering the Kingdom of Leon, it was possible to wash its image as a ‘loyalist who established a new royal family’ rather than as a ‘coward who bowed his head in fear of the Empire’.

‘It gets even weirder if you hold on.’

The more I think about it, the more I realize that if a noble from the Kingdom of Leon appears who opposes the empire, even if he dies, it is a natural death. The empire provided both justification and utility, but if you don’t eat, you’ll have to sell porridge no matter what.

“Treat them with respect and promise to guarantee their title and territory. Even though they are nobles from a foreign country, they are people who have made a big decision to overcome a national crisis.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

In fact, the 6th Corps commander immediately ordered a gentle response to the staff’s report. Since he gave the surrenderers the answer they desperately wanted without hesitation, it seems that he received separate instructions from the emperor or King Seung-gong.

“The border is open, so let’s enter. Everyone, get ready.”

And he calmly mentioned the breakthrough of the empire’s eastern border, which occurred for the first time in about 30 years, as if discussing the lunch menu.

I feel strange. Did the imperialist countries that invaded Africa and Asia feel young? I’m definitely doing something big, but there’s no sense of crisis.

‘This is the car of national power.’

Afterwards, I felt a sense of satisfaction that cannot be described in words. If we push forward with overwhelming national power, something like this is possible.

Unfortunately, the only opponents I fought against were the Khagans, so there was no opportunity to feel the national power of the empire. The commanders of the Eastern District Army must have had this kind of experience every time.

‘…Using crazy tactics against such a national power?’

Suddenly, I thought of a country that was coming from the east of Leon. Even the parties whose territory will be stolen bow their heads in shame, so why on earth do they?

They say that when five humans come together, one is trash, but since there are many countries on the continent, this seems to happen.

***

Four imperial legionnaires proudly passed the border.

It’s miserable. The same country broke through the border of Leon twice, and instead of fulfilling its duty as the Margrave of Dalihaten who was supposed to protect the border, it opened the border on its own.

But what can you do? The empire is not weak enough to stop one margrave from struggling. Leon is not strong enough to overcome even if the nobles join forces.

‘I wanted to make the final fireworks shine brightly.’

With a bitter smile, he touched the Margrave’s seal. No matter how bad a country is, there are loyalists who die for that country. No matter how much a royal family loses public favor, there are servants who protect its side.

That’s why I also wanted to become a poor loyalist, a servant who lost the public’s support. It is true that the current royal families of Leon and Asturia are weak and powerless, but it is also true that our ancestors received grace from this country and this royal family. So, at least I wanted to become a dead person along with Asturia. I wanted to leave a name like that.

And what broke that will was not grandiose resolutions but trivial daily life.

‘My death cannot end in my own death.’

Just before summoning the private army to move to the border fort, the captain of the guard, who had served the family for generations, saw his grandson. I saw the head of the guard, who was always sighing because he was worried about his son’s weakness, smiling brightly.

When he saw that, he couldn’t bear to open his mouth. Since the crown prince had already died and was planning to be buried along with the rest of the royal family, he could not immediately call in his vassals and private soldiers.

What right do I have to say something like that? The reason I reign as margrave is to protect the border, protect the territory, and protect the people. But does my promise to share good fortune with the royal family really fit my mission?

No, not at all. That promise was nothing more than the self-satisfaction of an individual, not the Margrave.

‘Shame on you.’

I sighed softly. As my hot head cooled, I realized how ugly I was trying to do.

‘I’ll have to step down when I’m done.’

So, when a new royal family takes over, let’s step down cleanly. Even though it ended up being an attempt, it is shameless to swear loyalty to a new royal family when you have pledged to die with the current royal family.

Moreover, a person who is consumed by emotions and almost drives the territory and its citizens to death is not qualified to be a margrave. Fortunately, unlike me, my son is cautious, so he may be able to rule better than me.

– Knockknock

“Your Excellency. You must leave now.”

After deciding to retire, a knock was heard and the voice of the guard captain was heard.

Yes, I have to go out. A guy who surrendered without a fight can’t fall into a place where he welcomes the occupying forces.

‘…I hope it is a merciful occupation force.’

I hope they treat Leon’s subjects with pity, just like their cause.

Nobles can survive even if they pay their interests to the occupying army, but subjects cannot survive if their home is plundered.

***

Arrived at the center of Dalihaten Marginal Territory.

Since the entry was bloodless, it felt more like stopping at a highway rest area rather than entering an enemy fortress. Maybe it has entered IC.

“A lowly noble from a small border country greets the great general who represents His Majesty’s will.”

And Margrave Dalihaten, who greeted the expeditionary force leaders in the square, looked extremely low-key. Although he was the commander of the 6th Corps under orders from the emperor, he had no idea that the Margrave, a titled nobleman and a high-ranking nobleman, would bow down to that level.

‘Isn’t that the way to behave?’

When an army from a foreign country suddenly entered the country, the citizens who were watching the situation from afar looked bitter or shed tears at the margrave’s surrender.

Looking at the reaction, it seems that he is a lord loved by the people, and if so, he is not just a flattering Grandeur to impress the empire. Usually, people who are good at flattery are far from being good.

“Raise your head. Isn’t the Margrave a comrade who understands His Majesty’s noble will and joins the Empire’s great journey?”

The commander of the 6th Corps also seemed to have a general understanding of the Margrave’s position and personality, and raised him up in a friendly tone.

Then the expressions of the people softened a little. He must have been a truly loved lord.

‘Do other lords do this too?’

It’s a little disappointing. If there are many nobles who surrender without fighting, it is beneficial for the empire, but only if there are those who are moderately confrontational and those who have lost the public’s support can they legally take over the territory.

Of course, you won’t go empty-handed since there is a royal decree under the direct control of the royal family, but it is still easier to take the noble decree.