Chapter 800 - Chapter 1: The King of East Liber
Once, there was a massive country called the Kingdom of Liber. It was a giant kingdom established essentially in a single generation by an extremely capable and ambitious man who was the chief of a tribe called the Liberians, who lived in the northeastern part of current West Liber—the land located to the west of the Duchy of Roland. Upon his death, the man divided and gave the territory to his three sons through inheritance. Those became the countries currently called East, West, and Central or South Liber. Among the three countries, Central Liber weakened over several generations, and as a result of negotiations during the inheritance after a certain king's death, the northern part of its territory was effectively snatched by East and West Liber. This is why Central Liber also came to be called South Liber. As a result, East and West Liber came to share a border, and throughout the history of both countries, they have occasionally fought and vied for the adjacent regions. The region that became the site of that struggle currently belongs to the Kingdom of East Liber. That said, it is a very recent development; until a few months ago, it was the territory of the Kingdom of West Liber.
"Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from Lord Richard, the Duke of Roland. As a gift to Your Majesty, one hundred barrels of salted herring produced in the land Your Majesty granted to the Duke of Roland last year are attached."
A knight presented a letter to a middle-aged man. The man used a room in a magnificent manor as an audience chamber. The room's decorations and carpets were fitting for a man called Your Majesty to sit in, but only the chair he sat in could hardly be called a throne. That was to be expected; this was not the palace in the Royal Capital where the man lived. It was the manor of the former lord of a certain large city he had personally campaigned to reach.
Normally, war is not waged in midwinter. Camping during the severe winter would only result in soldiers freezing to death. Many mercenary contracts do not include winter warfare. However, if there is a base where they can winter, they may stay there as is. Of course, this is limited to cases where food is abundant. And they do not lead very many soldiers. Since replenishing food is difficult, they must send many soldiers back home or they will fall into food shortages. The soldiers staying in the base were kept to a minimum. However, the same was true for the opponent, and neither side would go out from a warm and safe base into the snowfields where the cold wind whistled to conduct field battles.
The one called Your Majesty was the King of East Liber. Despite being nearly sixty years old, he was a robust man in the prime of health, and since his coronation, he had spent his life energetically expanding his controlled territories through diplomacy and war. The King of East Liber's brother-in-law was Seldic, the King of Engrio on the White Island, and his legitimate son—in other words, the King of East Liber's nephew—was Richard, the Duke of Roland. The Duchy of Roland was a country whose autonomy was recognized on the condition that Richard, who was active in the campaign against West Liber about two years ago, became a subject of the King of East Liber. That land was the birthplace of the founder of the Kingdom of Engrio. The religion was different, and the spirit and culture were different. They used to defy the Liberian rulers and rebel at every opportunity, but perhaps due to the bloodline, the signs of defiance disappeared after Richard began to rule. In the previous war, he became known for being skilled in battle, and at the same time, he was good at diplomacy. The King of East Liber calculated that he would eventually become the King of Engrio, and at that time, the entire White Island would become a vassal state of East Liber. He frequently told those around him that he was a well-accomplished nephew. Richard also sent letters along with gifts appropriate for the season to the King of East Liber, with whom he shared a blood connection.
"Ho ho, salted herring from Richard, eh? That's appreciated for someone on winter service. I shall share some with you all as well."
"Ha! Thank you very much."
"Now, I look forward to seeing what my nephew has to say this time."
The King of East Liber's face broke into a smile at the news that a letter had been delivered. Richard, who spent nearly half the period until his adulthood in East Liber, understood his position well. He followed the instructions of his mother, the King of East Liber's sister, well and behaved as an obedient subject to his uncle. In fact, after reaching adulthood, he worked as a subject, gathering soldiers and acting as a vanguard for the King of East Liber. Even in this campaign after becoming the Duke, he stood at the front lines and was fully active in combat and stratagems. As a result, he utilized the southern nobles who, despite being kin, would rebel at every opportunity, and obtained new territory. Thanks to that, the King of East Liber's direct army, which had personally campaigned, won the glory of victory without a scratch. Furthermore, the lands Richard requested as a reward for the victory were all lands said to be difficult to govern for East Liber. He greatly utilized the bloodline of the Kingdom of Engrio and brilliantly captured the hearts of the people. That meant a reduction in military service and accompanying expenses when a rebellion occurred in that land, which was something to be greatly welcomed by the surrounding nobles. It is expected that he will eventually lead the soldiers obtained in that land and rush to new battles to satisfy the King of East Liber's territorial greed. A capable and selfless kinsman is a hard-to-find vassal.
However, tension ran through the King of East Liber's eyes when he saw the delivered letter.
"Y-Your Majesty, what kind of thing did the Duke of Roland...?"
The knight who brought the letter asked fearfully, seeing an expression his master rarely showed when reading a letter from the Duke of Roland. Could it be that a rebellion had occurred in the land the Duke of Roland newly acquired?
"Ah, he said it would be better to cancel the personal campaign against West Liber and have a truce."
"A truce? At this time... W-Why would that be?"
The King of East Liber was in the middle of a personal campaign.
They had occupied all the lands originally planned for conquest. While preparing for the West Liber army's recapture operation, they were looking for an opportunity to invade further west. Moreover, a secret pact had been made with the great noble of West Liber who held territory to the south of the occupied land. In spring, he would come to recapture the southern edge of the occupied land with a mock offensive. Although it was called a recapture, that was the story as the Kingdom of West Liber; for the noble coming to take it, it was new territory. The West Liber noble who originally owned it died in battle against the East Liber army, and his family was captured. There were rumors that they were killed because they resisted, and it could be said they have now vanished. The East Liber army would withdraw after fighting an appropriate siege battle. After effectively handing it over, they would keep garrison soldiers and face off against each other. In short, it was a fixed match. However, the battle for the killing of the former lord's relatives took more time than expected, and although all the fixed-match transactions should have been completed in the late autumn of the previous year, they could not be finished. With winter's arrival, the West Liber army withdrew once and was to attack again. This was not Richard's fault. It was because the East Liber army prioritized looting at their destination, giving the targets time to solidify their defenses. Richard's army, which was assigned the role of fleeing to stage a mock escape, ended up wintering, but they were able to secure sufficient provisions through looting. Richard, as an unavoidable matter, had meticulously thanked the southern East Liber nobles who led the looting army.
For the main East Liber army, the threat from the south would disappear once the transaction was completed. They could launch an offensive further west after receiving reinforcements in spring, or if the situation was not favorable, they could return home leaving garrison soldiers as they were. In any case, a truce at this point was not good. If the secret pact was not fulfilled, the other party might launch a forced attack and the main army itself might be stalled. If that happened, they would not be able to return home easily. Not only that, the occupied land they had finally obtained might once again become the target of a struggle. Originally, they were able to easily obtain the occupied land on the premise of the secret pact. That might go to waste. If they came to recapture in earnest, there would be damage whether they won or lost.
The knight who brought Richard's letter to the King of East Liber naturally understood that. The knight, who had been amazed by Richard's skill which was almost like magic, could not understand Richard's change of heart.
"It seems Black Rot patients have appeared in West Liber, and the number of deaths continues to increase."
"Black Rot? Then, is it a truce due to an epidemic again?"
Even the knight had heard of the Black Rot. East Liber managed the best herb garden in the western continent, so interest in medicine was high. The knight was, of course, a noble, and when he returned to his mansion, there were multiple hired apothecaries and doctors. However, to the knight, the doctors were overly anxious about illness and were annoying, noisy existences who would say things like 'refrain from alcohol' or 'be careful with fine food' at every opportunity. He had knowledge about the Black Rot, but he thought that epidemics were things that people who were unhygienic, starving, or lacking in faith caught, and that it had nothing to do with himself, a noble and robust knight. He thought that a knight was someone who brilliantly exchanged lives on the battlefield and did not think about living a long life without even drinking much wine.
"What do you mean 'again'? Are you dissatisfied?"
"N-No, it's not exactly like that, but even if we implement epidemic countermeasures, the only ones who will be happy are the commoners and serfs. During the previous spread of the epidemic, no nobles in our country died."
"That may be so, but this time it's not just that."
"What do you mean?"
The King of East Liber explained Richard's thinking.
"If we have a truce now, what will happen?"
"The enemy in the south will be furious and will surely attack in spring. The southern town that is the subject of the transaction will undoubtedly be attacked unless we evacuate early."
"In other words, the possibility of the epidemic moving north increases."
The fact that the movement of people and goods accompanying military actions is promoting the spread of epidemics is believed not only by those dealing with epidemic countermeasures but even by the general public. This is because infected soldiers participate in military service without knowing it and pass it on to those in the same unit or to those in towns and villages they stop at.
"That's true."
"Richard says he will prepare during the winter and stop it no matter what. By bringing even the residents to his side."
"The residents?"
They had just occupied it. The soldiers on this side must be resented. One wouldn't know when they might rebel.
"Even if he brings them to his side, won't he have his throat slit in his sleep?"
"Normally, yes. But this time, it won't be like that."
"Why is that? Please teach me, ignorant as I am."
"Hmm. Very well."
Richard's argument was that he would protect the town from the Black Rot. He said that those coming from southern West Liber must never be allowed into the town. Especially, if a large number of people like an army entered, it would finally and definitely become the cause of the spread and it would spread throughout the town. And he said that the Duchy of Roland is prepared to send reinforcements and magic water to save the towns where those who have now become citizens of the Kingdom of East Liber live from the Black Rot.
"That's right. The Duchy of Roland's army will utilize the transport capacity of the rivers to carry the magic water of the White Island and save the town from the Black Rot."
"I-I see. To save the entire town..."
"And the one who will give those instructions will be me."
"I-In other words, Your Majesty will save the people of the town?"
"That's right. Based on those things, I will conduct truce negotiations with West Liber citing the Black Rot and make it public. I am stopping the war to save the people from the epidemic."
Hearing the King of East Liber's story, the knight could read Richard's thinking.
In the previous war between East and West Liber, West Liber was said to have not only failed to prevent the spread of the epidemic but also monopolized the magic water and profited greedily... though such unscrupulous people were only a few nobles and the King of West Liber himself was completely unrelated... and had earned the resentment of the people. Compared to that, Richard, the Duke of Roland, and Theresia, the Duchess of Germana—who were relatives of the King of East Liber—provided magic water for free regardless of social status and saved many patients. It is clear which of East or West Liber captured the people's hearts and gained popularity. Richard intends to do that again this time. Moreover, this time, he can plant the illusion that the army led by the nobles of West Liber is bringing the epidemic. East Liber will, following the previous time, once again be the good monarch trying to protect the people from the epidemic. Even though it was East Liber that started the war.
The soldiers who will stand at the front lines this time will mostly be Richard's personal troops, and the generals leading the soldiers are those borrowed from King Seldic. The King of East Liber will gain fame as a monarch without losing anything, regardless of the results at the front.
"There is a river to the east, isn't there?"
"Yes. The mouth of the river is the territory of the Duchy of Roland."
"That's right. Richard must be planning to transport reinforcements and magic water to the front using the water transport of the river."
"Most likely."
"In this dispatch of troops, there is something Richard told me."
"What kind of thing was that?"
"That it would be better to decide my base within the range where the water transport of the eastern river can be utilized."
"Why is that?"
"Don't you understand?"
"I am terribly sorry."
The King of East Liber laughed, "Heh heh heh." His loyal nephew had wisdom that his own guards couldn't even compare to. That felt pleasant.
"The threat comes from the south. Whether it be people or the epidemic. If those fellows come to interfere so as not to become a shackle for me, Richard can move by river, break through the forest along the river, and launch a flank attack."
"I-In other words, the Duke of Roland had predicted everything."
"No. It's because if he just suppresses the enemy coming from the south, he can win. Even if that enemy happens to be my own relative."
To the south of the town where the King of East Liber set up his camp is the new territory of his own army's nobles who would rebel at any opportunity. Richard, whose father is the King of Engrio which has a powerful navy, can realize mobility that can sufficiently check those dissatisfied elements. That has already been proven in actual combat. Because the dissatisfied elements also understand that, they are acting according to the original operation plan without complaining. Of course, they are also enjoying sufficient profits.
"I-I see. I understand."
The knight lamented the shallowness of his own thinking, and at the same time, felt a sense of awe toward Richard, who used magical maneuvers to carry things out by utilizing every situation and pulling them so that they would work in his own favor. However, the knight, who was deep in his faith, thought he had to say just one thing.
"But, Your Majesty. I heard that magic water was made with the magic of pagans..."
The religion was different. The priests of the monotheistic religion protected by their own country might not look kindly upon it.
"That is a strange thing to say."
"Eh?"
"That magic water is the Dragon's Secret Medicine, isn't it? They say that in the giant mountain range that forms the border with South Liber, there is a dragon that brings good luck and occasionally saves those who are stranded around the mountain range. In other words, even if pagans learned how to make it, the source is the dragon. It has nothing to do with our doctrine."
It was a rumor. In a port town facing the Inner Sea, eight Black Rot patients were snatched away by a dragon. There were multiple witnesses. And when they returned along with a priest who was also snatched away, they were completely cured. People called it a miracle and thanked the dragon. In the three Liberian countries, it is believed that dragons exist, for better or for worse.
"I-I see. Indeed."
The knight showed a look of joy. That was because if that were the case, there was no need to show consideration to anyone.