884 – The Burden of the Empire – 6
The Minister of Foreign Affairs continued his explanation to the point where the listener’s mind was blown. Judging from the fact that he continued speaking without the slightest hesitation, it seemed like this was a long-held wish that he had cherished in his heart for at least several years, or perhaps even decades.
I understand. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is someone who spent his youth at a time when the Empire’s national power was at its lowest. The Empire’s foreign relations were in a state of great confusion, and the continental powers, far from respecting the Empire, looked down on it.
So, he would want to thoroughly control the nations and raise the prestige of the empire. This is something that is completely understandable as a human being and as a fellow public official.
Yeah, I can understand that.
‘I brought something that shouldn’t come out in this day and age.’
I never thought that the means would be the Pan-Continental Treaty Organization. I never imagined that they would bring out something like the United Nations from the medieval fantasy world.
Of course, this era is medieval in name only, but in reality it is a terrible hybrid of ancient, medieval, and modern times. If you exclude the existence of the class system and feudal system, it is questionable whether it can even be called a ‘medieval’ fantasy.
But that’s not it. In the world I used to live in, the global organization emerged in the 20th century. It was in an age of advanced transportation and communication that, uh…?
‘…Isn’t this place developed too?’
Come to think of it, transportation and communication in this world are also excellent.
A communication port where you can talk while looking at each other’s faces, and if talking is difficult, you can send text messages anytime, anywhere. A teleportation where you can move freely as long as the wizard’s ability holds up.
It’s a little less versatile, but it’s good enough for international exchange. In some ways, it’s better than the previous 20th century.
“Every nation must maintain its position and exercise its rights and duties appropriate to its position. Any attempt to deviate from that position is tantamount to disrupting the peace of the continent, and all nations must resolutely respond.”
While I was lost in my own thoughts, the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ explanation reached its climax.
“If all the elements of the continent were faithful to their roles, how could there be war? A family is harmonious when its head is strong and its family trusts him. A city prospers when its mayor is wise and its citizens support the mayor. This is the same for nations and continents.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had said so, asked for the Emperor’s understanding, and then began to scribble something on a blank piece of paper on the Emperor’s desk.
[Transcontinental Treaty Organization. The organization seeks the membership of all continental countries. It will not use force to suppress non-member countries that refuse to join, but the member countries will not establish any diplomatic relations with non-member countries.
The Empire of Kpelopen holds the status of ‘Prime Minister’ within the organization. As the chair of the organization, the Prime Minister is dedicated to mediating disputes between member states and maintaining peace on the continent.
The Holy See has the status of an ‘observer state’. Observer states are free from the obligations imposed on each country by the organization, have the right to participate in discussions between member states, and may intervene in discussions at the request of member states.
The three countries, excluding the Empire and the Diocese, have the status of ‘Great Powers’. As Vice-Chairmen of the Organization, Great Powers are primarily responsible for each region of the continent.
Other countries have the same status and voice as ordinary members.
The Supreme Council exercises veto power over decisions made by member states of the organization.
If the will of the three major powers is in agreement, the veto power is nullified─
The voting rights of the Sanguk, Daeguk, and Ordinary countries─]
‘ah.’
As I was quickly filling in the blank paper, I slowly closed my eyes.
Even at a glance, it is an unusual content. It is unknown whether the expressions “Shangguk” and “Great Nation” will actually be used, but in the mind of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Empire is already a Shangguk. It is certain that the Empire’s authority will be established to a degree befitting the name of Shangguk.
At the same time, I felt the deep malice of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in selecting three major countries.
‘If there are two, it’s obviously Armenia and Juve.’
Those two are the obvious 2nd and 3rd place on the continent. But who is the 4th place? Which country can be said to be as powerful as Armenia and Juve?
If the Kyo-guk had taken the position of a great power, everyone would have accepted it, but the Kyo-guk was excluded as an observer country. In that case, the ‘ordinary countries’ will fight fiercely to take the one remaining great power position.
At the same time, this organization is created under the leadership of the Empire and under the design of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It is not a problem to make sure that the Empire’s intentions are fully incorporated into the criteria for selecting a great power.
‘The founding country, the chair country, and the designated great power country…’
The title is so crazy that my heart swells. If it comes true, the empire will be the pinnacle of the continent and the unchanging number one. Unless the empire chooses death of its own accord, the era of Kpelopen will continue forever.
If it happens that way.
“minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“It is a truly interesting and beautiful story. If this organization encompasses the continent, the empire will not have to suppress the other nations with its national power, but will simply move forward by inertia by standing still.”
The Emperor, who was looking down at the blank sheet of paper densely written with letters, soon turned his gaze to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“Is it possible?”
And then he blurted out just one word.
Could the empire create an organization that would control the continent and have all nations tremble and obey the empire’s words? After all, an organization is only as powerful as its many member nations, so could it possibly induce other nations to join?
It is indeed a valid point. It is an organization that claims to be a means for the peace of the continent or a new order, but in the end, it is nothing more than a tool for imperial hegemony. What other countries would gain from joining such an organization? If things go wrong, it is highly likely that it will become a laughingstock organization with only the Empire, the Winter Three Kingdoms, and at best, the Kingdom of Jereno.
“Your Majesty. Everyone is in awe of and jealous of the number one person at the top, but there are also those who are content to be number two and want to maintain that position.”
The Emperor remained silent in response to the Foreign Minister’s reply, as if asking him to speak more.
“Today, the authority of the Empire reaches the heavens. Even the Armenians have bowed their heads in recognition of the Empire’s supremacy, so what about other nations? In fact, even without this organization, the Empire’s hegemony would continue for at least a hundred years.”
I let out a sigh of relief at those words.
The gap between the number one and number two is overwhelming. The number two has given up on competition. A person who does not look down on the number one and is dedicated to maintaining the number two position.
When I listed the keywords like this, I thought I knew the picture the Minister of Foreign Affairs was drawing.
‘Regional hegemony.’
The empire has established hegemony that spans the continent. This is a level that even Armen, the second most powerful man on the continent, cannot surpass, and as the Minister of Foreign Affairs said, it is a power that will last for at least a hundred years.
Then what about below that? What about other regions that are too cumbersome for the empire to manage individually and are far from the empire? If we divide them into several units called regions rather than the huge unit called continent, what will the hegemony there be?
‘The great powers will take over.’
Armenia in the northern part of the continent. Juven in the eastern part of the continent. At least in that area, the two countries are empires and emperors. The great powers nearby are more powerful than empires far away.
The institution guarantees that authority. As long as the number two and number three do not seek to rise higher, the number one person is willing to guarantee the position below the throne.
To put it nicely, it’s mutual assistance, but to put it bluntly─
‘Kick the ladder.’
An organization that rejects change among countries that already have a lot in their hands. That’s roughly how it can be summarized.
“Hmm.”
The emperor also reached that conclusion and stroked his chin with a more relaxed expression.
If it is a tool for the empire’s hegemony, there is no reason for other countries to join. However, if it is an alliance between those who have it, or a way to kick the ladder for a latecomer to climb up, it is a different story.
From the perspective of a great power, if they give up the unrivaled number one position, their current position will be safe. From the perspective of a weak country, it is not a loss since they will lose the crazy neighbor who will go crazy and say, “I will become the strongest country on the continent!” After all, if the ranking of national power on the continent fluctuates, it means that a weak country somewhere has been crushed.
Instead, the ambiguous middle powers that are neither great nor weak are the problem, but they are a small number so it doesn’t matter. If you want, you can try to win against empires, great powers, and weak countries.
‘Besides, I’ve already prepared a seat for the big country, so if you’re tactful, you’ll probably bow down.’
In fact, it’s a matter of either fighting the entire continent and winning, or bowing down to the empire and gaining a place as a great power.
What method will the middle powers take? What path will Rutton and Bazen, who are at each other’s throats at this very moment, take?
“Minister Heo, how do you plan to mediate the war?”
The Emperor, with a bright smile on his face, opened his mouth to address the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“That is not a matter for Soshin to worry about. If you let slip the idea of creating an organization, they will beg for mediation.”
The Foreign Minister answered with a brighter smile than that.
He was clearly the kind of person who would roll his eyes and become furious at the ministerial meeting. It gave me goosebumps to think that his intense appearance was a thorough performance.
‘Let’s not mess around from now on.’
I never provoked the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the first place, but let’s be more careful in the future.
Rather than clashing with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I’d rather slap the Minister of Finance.
What happened after that was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so I couldn’t know the details of how things unfolded. Only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Emperor knew what logic and price the Minister of Foreign Affairs used to win over the continental powers.
Still, it was easy to see that things had worked out well.
– The war has stopped. It’s still a ceasefire, but they say it will end officially soon, so that’s it.
Because the Secretary of the Treasury, who is currently in the administration, has given us some good news.
– But since the armistice is being signed in Ausen, the budget is being prepared in a hurry. I was already dying trying to prepare the budget for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I’m going crazy.
“Oh, like that.”
This news also brings laughter, or rather, sighs.
‘The armistice treaty signed in Ausen.’
The authority of the empire, which had been damaged by the failure of mediation, was rebuilt. To others, it seemed as if they had beaten up disobedient nations and dragged them into the system.
Actually, it’s not completely wrong, since it wasn’t done with force, but with something else.