3 bar menu

Vol 05 Chapter 153: Second Southern Campaign IV

「Ainz, it’s been a while. Have you lost some weight?」

The Ainz I met after so long was noticeably thinner. His face is pale, and dark circles ring his eyes. I can guess the reason, but I chose not to mention it.

「Yes, thanks to you, Your Majesty.」

Ainz replied with a vague smile, but his eyes weren’t smiling.

He must not be in a good mood. Ainz is the leader of the pro-Rosais faction. Lezado’s parliament must be like a bed of nails for him right now.

「Now, Lezado is supposedly neutral in this war… Did you need something?」

「We have declared neutrality regarding your civil war. We also recognized the punitive actions against the city-states that supported it… However, anything beyond this is a breach of the treaty.」

The treaty he referred to is the one made with Lezado and Gehenna after the surrender of King Belvedire’s Country. It concerns the division of King Belvedire’s Country territory and the region sandwiched between King Belvedire’s Country and Lezado.

As a result of the treaty, the northern region with a high population of Adernians and the area in the central region populated by a mix of Adernians and Kirisians were ceded to our country. The southern region, predominantly inhabited by Kirisians, and the adjacent area were placed under Lezado and Gehenna’s influence and made independent.

The civil war broke out in the central area and the southern region and the adjacent city-states supported the rebellion. After the Second Southern Campaign, half of these city-states fell under our control.

Lezado and Gehenna would have likely tolerated our control over the northern part of the southern region. However, taking control of half of the city-states in the southern region was too much. They must have found it unacceptable.

But, to clarify, it wasn’t intentional.

After the last battle, the number of cities that surrendered increased dramatically.

Without even issuing a surrender demand, envoys with tributes came to offer their surrender. Naturally, there was no reason to refuse, so we continued to accept them.

「Most of the cities offered their surrender before even fighting us… no, even before we sent any surrender demands. This is due to Lezado’s poor management.」

I shrugged.

Ainz responded with a stronger tone.

「This is outrageous. Are you planning to trample on the treaty agreements?」

「We are not trampling on anything. They voluntarily surrendered to our country and asked to come under us. I am also troubled by this. You should persuade them to stay with you.」

Of course, such efforts will be futile. Even if they formally return to the umbrella of Lezado or Gehenna, a mere letter from me will cause them to betray them instantly.

Lezado’s and Gehenna’s centripetal force over the region has already diminished to an irrecoverable degree.

「…Very well. Once an alliance is formed, it can’t be undone. We will acknowledge your point. Our country demands that you halt your advance.」

「I would like to agree, but first, you must stop the military actions of the Kirisian city-states and the support from your merchants.」

When he heard my words, Ainz grimaced as if he had bitten into something bitter.

「Your Majesty, you may not believe me anymore, but… our government has maintained neutrality throughout this war.」

「However, it is a fact that merchants from Lezado have supported the rebels with weapons and provisions.」

「…Our country has no laws to regulate that.」

From what I heard, Lezado seems to be a country with a very ‘small government’. The state only handles maintaining public order, national defense, and public works.

… No, even public order and national defense are often managed by mercenaries hired by individual merchants, and public works are frequently done as donations from the merchants.

Basically, the government holds almost no power.

Lezado’s government is similar to the United Nations. Each merchant is a country. When push comes to shove, merchants can act independently and do as they please. Lezado has that kind of system.

「I do not trust Lezado as a country. But, Ainz, I trust you.」

「…I’m glad to hear you say that.」

Ainz sighed softly.

「The Kirisian city-states have already ceased their military actions. The merchants have also abandoned them and stopped their support.」

「I see… Well, I understand. Could you excuse us for a moment? I need to discuss something with my retainers.」

With that, I forcibly dismissed Ainz and then turned to Iarl, Raymond, and Bartolo, who stood by my side.

「Should we cease the hostilities, or should we continue? I want to hear your opinions.」

When I asked, Raymond was the first to speak.

「We should immediately call for a truce. The cities that have surrendered are supporting us with supplies, so that problem is solved. However, maintaining an army of forty thousand any longer will severely impact our agriculture.」

Raymond’s opinion was clear: we should stop the war. This perspective came from his role as a politician and an internal affairs official.

「What are you talking about? Now is the perfect opportunity. If we continue our advance, we can conquer all the Kirisian city-states. If we play our cards right, we could even swallow Lezado whole. Lezado is an economic powerhouse. If we annex that country, our national strength will skyrocket. The impact on agriculture is a minor issue.」

Bartolo’s opinion was to continue the war. This perspective came from his role as a military officer.

Raymond quickly countered.

「Agriculture is the foundation of our country. We must not neglect it. Furthermore, we have just solved the recent strikes. If we leave the farmlands unattended any longer, the farmers will fall into poverty. If that happens, the same thing will happen again. Now is the time to make peace. Moreover, if we advance any further, Lezado will use Alexios Barca against us!」

Raymond’s voice rose as he spoke.

We learned the significant military prowess of Alexios Barca during the encirclement. If Alexios command is combined with the mobility of the Germanis mercenaries, it will pose a significant threat.

「Do you think I will lose to Alexios Barca?」

「I’m not saying that, but it won’t be as easy as twisting a baby’s arm, will it?」

The two glared at each other. At least they both finished voicing their opinions.

「Iarl, what about you?」

「We should make peace.」

Iarl said decisively.

「In Lezado, the conflict between the pro-Rosais and anti-Rosais factions is intensifying. The pro-Rosais faction is accusing the anti-Rosais faction of provoking us, while the anti-Rosais faction is accusing the pro-Rosais faction of allowing us to conquer their compatriots. If left alone, this will naturally lead to internal division. When that happens, it will be the perfect opportunity for conquest. Conversely, if we continue our advance now, the anti-Rosais faction will gain the upper hand, and Lezado will unite against us.」

He focused on Lezado’s internal strife. It’s a diplomat’s perspective.

Now, what should I do…

I closed my eyes and thought for a moment. Then, I opened my eyes.

「Alright, let’s pursue peace. For now, we should solidify our position.」

After that, I called Ainz back and asked him to mediate the peace negotiations.

◇

1. Lezado, Gehenna, and the Kirisian city-states shall recognize King Rosais’ Country’s priority over the newly allied cities.
2. King Rosais’ Country shall recognize Lezado and Gehenna’s priority and the independence of the cities allied with them.
3. Both parties shall refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.
4. Lezado, Gehenna, and King Rosais’ Country shall establish embassies and appoint ambassadors to each other.
5. The assets of Lezado merchants who supported the Kirisian city-states within King Rosais’ Country shall be confiscated.
6. The Kirisian city-states shall pay King Rosais’ Country reparations of five hundred talents immediately.

Hmm, not bad.

I read through the clauses agreed upon by both parties.

I carefully checked the treaty for any loopholes. Though I am an Adernian, this document is written in Kirisian.

I was worried they might introduce a vaguely worded clause to take advantage of me not being Kirisian… but it seems those fears were unfounded.

Well, it’s fairly well-known that I am fluent in Kirisian.

I glanced at the representatives of the Kirisian city-states. They wore expressions as if they had swallowed something bitter.

Five hundred talents will be a significant burden for them… but it’s their own fault.

I signed the document and stamped it with my golden seal. The representatives of the Kirisian city-states, though looking bitter, also signed it one by one.

And thus, the Second Southern Campaign came to a peaceful conclusion.

◇

Two weeks after the war ended, we began organizing the spoils and reparations.

「The total profit from looting amounts to approximately two hundred talents. The total sum of tribute is two hundred talents, and the recently paid compensation is five hundred talents. Additionally, the assets confiscated from the Lezado merchants within our country amount to one hundred talents,」

Raymond read from the report.

In total, we profited one thousand talents.

This was more than I had anticipated. War can be quite profitable.

「Furthermore, the increase in allied cities will result in higher tax revenues.」

「In the end, the rebellion turned out to be beneficial.」

The saying a blessing in disguise couldn’t be more apt. Without this civil war, I wouldn’t have invaded the Kirisian city-states, gained a thousand talents, and increased tax revenues.

「Next, we need to steadily proceed with the military reforms…」

In a year, we might be prepared to conquer Lezado.

I couldn’t help but smile.

「And there’s one more thing. We’ve acquired a peculiar vegetable.」

「Vegetable?」

Raymond instructed his subordinates to bring in this vegetable.

After a while, they brought in a plant with red fruit growing in a pot.

「This is the vegetable.」

「…It’s a tomato.」

Well, this is…

A rather mediocre vegetable to have acquired …I would have preferred soybeans, potatoes, or corn.