882 – The Burden of the Empire – 4

The next day, the Minister of Finance did not visit the mansion. He seemed to have chosen to go to work on his own rather than be forcibly summoned as I advised.

That is a wise choice. If the result of going to work cannot be avoided, wouldn’t it be better to make the process beautiful? If it were a question of ‘a minister who took a vacation to avoid a storm and failed vs. a minister who suddenly had an urgent matter that required a vacation but went straight to work for the sake of the national interest,’ everyone would choose the latter.

“count?”

“His Majesty the Emperor.”

Yeah, everyone has no choice but to choose the latter.

Unfortunately, I also belong to the latter group.

‘This time, I will definitely be called in.’

He bowed his head toward the emperor and closed his eyes solemnly.

The Inspectorate is a domestic department, but thanks to my overwhelming performance as a Sky-Bearer, I am also used as an external force. The most effective and simple way to show off the Empire’s power to other countries is to deploy me.

In such a situation, a war involving six countries broke out, and the Empire had to intervene to end the war? The odds of me being called are slightly lower than the odds of the sun rising in the east.

Of course, my temporary resignation from the position of Inspector General is meaningless. The Emperor’s subjects are all the nobles and commoners of the Empire, not government officials. Even idle nobles should criticize the Emperor if he criticizes them.

“Oh, right. I didn’t think the Count would come first.”

Anyway, when I came here of my own accord, the emperor just laughed in vain.

“Even if it is only temporary, isn’t the Count a barbarian with no public office? For a barbarian to volunteer to come and find me for the sake of the empire? The Count’s loyalty is truly beautiful and noble.”

“I am sorry to say this, Your Majesty.”

“I am also grateful for the Count’s noble decision. If the Count had not come, I would not have been able to call for you.”

‘Don’t be a jerk.’

I barely managed to swallow the curse that was rising to the top of my throat.

This kid. He’s talking nonsense because he’s already a fish in the net. If I hadn’t really come, I would’ve summoned him right away.

“Since we are scheduled to hold a ministerial meeting at lunchtime today, the Count should accompany you and your luggage. The other ministers will not know that the Count has stepped down from his post, so it will not matter.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration.”

I’m so grateful that I want to punch you in the nose.

Now even the philtrum is not enough. Please give me just one in the middle.

“Yes, Count.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Be commanded.”

“Have you met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs recently?”

“Before visiting Armenia, we had been in contact through telecommunications, but since returning home, we have had no contact other than greetings.”

He said that he had not seen it since the Six Nations War. The Emperor nodded calmly, as if he had expected the answer.

“The Count should appease the Minister. If the Count actively cooperates, the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ anger will subside a little.”

I couldn’t quite bring myself to say those words.

The Emperor is watching, the Minister of the Imperial Household is trembling, and even the Minister of Finance is running away. Those three are trying to avoid the typhoon, so I wonder if I will be any different. I am worried that I will be torn to pieces by the typhoon if I start talking to them for no reason.

“…I will try my best.”

However, it is an undeniable fact that I owe a debt to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It is also true that I have to talk to them as much as possible to repay this debt.

In that case, I must appease the Minister of Foreign Affairs even if I have to risk being torn to pieces. If the person who has been considerate of me is losing his mind and running wild, it is also the duty of the debtor to correct him.

I never thought my eyes would turn that far.

“You dare to ignore the Empire’s mediation and go to war! How can you ignore the sole authority of the Empire and reject the merciful mediation plan! The intentions of Ryuton and Bazen, who turned away from the path to peace and chose war, must be hideous and treacherous!”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs giving an impassioned speech in front of all the ministers of the administration, including the Emperor.

“As a great nation that protects the order of the continent, the Empire must never sit idly by and allow this to happen! The Empire’s lofty majesty must be resolutely demonstrated!”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, whose eyes start to show more and more whites the more he speaks.

“The time for moderate measures has passed. They have seen the end of the Empire’s patience, now it is time to show the Empire its strength!”

The expression “strength” drew a groan from the ministers. I know, you know, and even my TITI knows that it means the Empire’s military intervention.

Moreover, there is no other way to describe such remarks coming out of a diplomat’s mouth than to say that he is crazy. Having worked as a diplomat for decades, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has become more familiar with diplomatic rhetoric than everyday language. He is a person who speaks in a thoroughly ambiguous manner because he clearly knows his position and duties.

Still, he said something rather direct like, ‘We must show strength’? This means that he will choose to punish Ryuton and Bazen as the last spark of his term as minister.

Of course, whether it would be the last flame or not was up to the Emperor’s decision.

“I fully understand the feelings of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Empire’s loyal friends are shedding tears at the tyranny of their neighbors, and the greedy Quaronos is once again showing his greed that is beyond his means. How heartbreaking this is.”

While everyone else was maintaining an awkward silence, the one who cautiously opened his mouth to respond to the Foreign Minister’s passionate speech was the Minister of War.

“Ryuton and Bazen are also extremely insolent. How can I ignore the Empire’s benevolent mediation and pursue my own desires? This is a situation where I must seek final advice, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs has said.”

The Secretary of War, who had been speaking as if he supported the war, coughed for a moment.

“But the Empire is the parent of the continental nations. Even the most incompetent children must be embraced, and if they misbehave, gentle reprimands must be used first rather than harsh beatings. If a child is about to go astray, tears must be shed and the beating must be taken, but Ryuton and Bazen have not yet crossed the river.”

He tried to appease the Foreign Minister by saying that the issue could still be resolved diplomatically and peacefully.

It’s a bit of a strange sight. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is calling for war, while the Minister of War is calling for a diplomatic solution. No matter how you look at it, the roles seem to have been reversed.

“Admonition, all right. But they have already deeply damaged the authority of the Empire. If we show mercy here, they will mistake it for begging out of desperation, not generosity! This is a disaster that will forever be remembered in Imperial history!”

But given that the Foreign Minister’s anger is intense and focused on diplomacy, each appears to be doing their part.

I want to believe that. I’d rather believe that the Foreign Minister has some shred of reason in his anger.

“Leon has become an extension of the Empire due to a previous special military operation. Since you can enter Quronos through Leon, it is a card that can be used for military intervention as well.”

I was startled by the sudden declaration of the Jeong Qua-do.

It is true that Leon has become a playground for the Empire and Armenians since the royal family changed. In the north, which is the Armenian sphere of influence, it may be okay, but in the south, whatever you do is okay.

However, it is a separate issue to attack another foreign country through Leon, which is nominally a foreign country. The Imperial Army is stationed in Leon to ‘maintain peace and ensure public order’, but the Imperial Army actually starts a war using Leon as a passage? This is a situation that will make other countries tremble and knock desperately on the door of the Imperial Foreign Ministry.

“That can’t be happening!”

That’s why the Secretary of War’s voice also got louder.

If the Imperial Army were to invade another country through Leon, the department that would suffer the wrath of the other country along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be the Ministry of War. The Minister of War would be no ordinary idiot and would be slapped with all sorts of curses.

“Minister of Foreign Affairs! It hasn’t even been ten years since the Empire ended its fateful war to conquer the North! Thanks to His Majesty’s brilliant decisions and the bravery of his soldiers, casualties were limited, but hundreds of thousands of troops were trapped in the North! Even now, a considerable number of soldiers are still in the North to maintain security in the North!”

Before we knew it, the one-man show of the Foreign Minister had transformed into a freestyle diss battle between the two ministers.

‘I’m going crazy.’

My heart ached at the astonishing sight of ministers raising their voices and arguing in front of the king.

However, since both the position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of War were understandable categories, it was difficult to blame either side. The Minister of Foreign Affairs’s argument that we should take a hard line since we have already been hit with water, and the Minister of War’s argument that it would be unreasonable to start a new war following the Great War of Suppression and the Northern Expedition both had some merit.

As I was sighing like that, I happened to meet the emperor’s eyes,

‘What are you doing instead of appeasing me?’

‘How can you appease that, you crazy b*stard?’

We had a somewhat wordless conversation mixed with paraphrasing.

I hate it. I hate this situation itself. I hate Ryuton and Bazen who started the war, and Quaronos who was far from the throne because he kept nagging at the empire.

Of course, there is no regret in the winter of the Three Kingdoms. You should just go home before you starve to death.

***

The ministerial meeting was adjourned for a moment. It was a timely recess, for continuing the heated debate would not lead to a proper conclusion.

I am truly ashamed and sorry to Your Majesty, for raising my voice in front of Your sacred majesty, no matter how necessary it may be.

“It’s hot.”

He flopped down on the sofa in the break room and muttered softly.

As I’ve gotten older and gained weight, my body gets hot even with the slightest movement. In such a situation, I had a passionate debate with the Minister of War, so it was inevitable that my body would get hot.

It’s tiring. At this age and in this position, barking like a mad dog is not very pleasant.

But what can we do? For the sake of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ grand plan, the Minister needs to be a mad dog.

‘If we do this, the budget will be very generous.’

People think I have a double eyelid, but in reality I have no feelings at all.

No, actually I was angry at first, but I’m okay now.

…No, to be exact, my head still feels hot, but I can barely control it. And I continue to act crazy, barely holding on to my sanity.

‘Without this opportunity, unconditional support cannot be guaranteed.’

A dream that can never be achieved with the budget and manpower of the existing Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A huge expenditure that is absolutely necessary for the empire’s overwhelming hegemony, but cannot be attempted.

‘Transcontinental Treaty Organization.’

A treaty and permanent body encompassing all the nations of the continent. A means of mandatorily arbitrating continental disputes and legally establishing the supremacy of the empire.

This is a great opportunity to make this dream come true.