3 bar menu

Vol 05 Chapter 171: Third Southern Expedition VII

As the Rosais army I led appeared, the Pofenian army retreated like a receding wave. Normally, retreating would cause their formation to break, creating an opportunity for a pursuit…

However, they showed no such weakness.

To avoid unnecessary casualties, we didn’t pursue them and instead entered the city of Lezado.

Afterwards, post-war procedures were carried out promptly.

The volunteer soldiers and mercenaries of Lezado were disarmed, and Lezado itself was incorporated into King Rosais’ Country. The governance of Lezado was entrusted to the councilors who chose to remain in the city even when the odds were against them.

In terms of administration, it was treated as an allied city-state with very limited autonomy.

King Rosais’ Country has been a landlocked country until now, so we don’t have the know-how to manage a port. We thought that indirect rule would proceed more smoothly than trying to administer it directly.

However, the political system and tax system of Lezado are different from our country. In the case of the small autonomous and allied cities, they kept most of their autonomy, so it wasn’t an issue, but…

Since Lezado will be incorporated as a directly controlled territory, reforms to the tax and political systems will be necessary.

There are many other problems as well, but… For now, they can be postponed.

Right now, we need to deal with Pofenia.

◇

Three days after we entered Lezado, an international conference was held at the Lezado Parliament. As the host, I was the first to speak.

「Representatives, diplomats, and ambassadors from various countries, thank you for gathering here today. Let’s discuss post-war arrangements and measures against Pofenia.」

I looked around at those gathered in Lezado.

From King Domorgal Country, General Tonino. From the Equus Tribe, Mutzio. From King Evile’s Country and King Belvedire’s Country, high-ranking patricians acting as diplomats. From Gehenna, Abraham.

And from King Rosais’ Country, there was I, Iarl, and Bartolo.

These were the victors’ side. In addition to them…

There were Lezado councilors and Alexios who had directed the defense of Lezado, a consul from Nemes, and representatives from the various city-states on the Lezado-Nemes side that were spared invasion by being outside the route of the Rosais army’s advance.

These were the defeated side.

Additionally, there were representatives from city-states that had been invaded and fallen under the control of King Rosais’ Country. However, they were present only to observe the proceedings, not to participate, so they were watching us from the sidelines.

「First, to the countries allied with Lezado and Nemes, I offer you three choices. One is to be incorporated into our country as allied city-states. Another is to pay a compensation of two thousand talents. The last option is to be reduced to ashes.」

Our annual revenue is about one thousand talents. Given that our country, with a population of over four hundred thousand, barely generates a thousand talents, it’s impossible for city-states with populations of ten or twenty thousand to pay a two thousand talents compensation. If they breach the agreement, death awaits them. Essentially, it boils down to two choices.

Death or submission.

「King Almus, may I ask you one question?」

「What is it?」

「When you say ‘allied city-state treatment’… do you mean the same treatment as the currently allied city-states under your control?」

「That’s correct.」

When I answered, the expressions of the various representatives brightened, seemingly relieved.

Well, as punishment for a defeated country, it was quite lenient.

There are countries that demand reparations exceeding ten times the defeated annual income, and if the defeated cannot pay, they require the citizens to be sold into slavery.

In fact, demanding reparations is still relatively merciful. In some cases, entire ethnic groups are forcibly relocated and subjected to forced labor as slaves.

In comparison, even though the taxes will be slightly heavier, they are guaranteed autonomy, so isn’t a bad deal.

「It is with this understanding that our country will henceforth serve His Majesty.」

「Our country will also…」

「Our country will…」

The representatives from each country stepped forward to pledge their loyalty to me.

That was fast.

「I appreciate your loyalty, but let’s hold off on that. We have other matters to discuss right now.」

I gestured for the representatives to stop. They were no longer of importance. Now, onto more pressing matters.

「So, according to our initial plans, the war should end here… but what will you do?」

I directed my question to Mutzio and the diplomats from King Evile’s Country and King Belvedire’s Country.

Mutzio was the first to respond.

「I was originally hired by King Almus to help in this war. If King Almus continues to employ me, I will continue to participate in the war. If the war ends here, then I will return.」

「How much would the extension fee be?」

「That can be discussed later, I suppose?」

Mutzio and I shared a smile. It seems the Equus tribe will continue the war for now.

「What will your country do? In the fight against Pofenia, you won’t gain any territory, and there’s no guarantee of securing reparations. Therefore, I can’t promise any profits. I won’t force you. I will respect your decision.」

King Belvedire’s Country is essentially a vassal state of ours. King Evile’s Country is an ally, but not on equal terms, our country is superior to them.

That’s the relationship we have.

So, if I strongly insist, they will participate in the war… But I don’t want to create any cracks in the alliance.

I have no intention of forcing them.

Losing a few thousand soldiers would be a blow, but…

「Please allow us to contact our country first.」

「We cannot respond without consulting our king.」

「That makes sense… Please decide within two days.」

I can’t wait any longer than that.

Now…

I turned my gaze to the representative of Nemes, who could be considered today’s second main guest.

Nemes has yet to surrender to our country. They have only ceased hostilities with Gehenna.

I must ask what they intend to do from here.

「So, first and foremost, I need to know if your country stands as a friend to us or to Pofenia. Please clarify your position.」

In response to my question, the representative of Nemes answered.

「There are no true friendships between countries. Therefore, our country can become a friend to yours or to Pofenia.」

Nemes gave a noncommittal response. Hearing this, Abraham snorted derisively.

「Have you heard this story? Once, there was a bat. When a war broke out between the birds and the beasts, the birds, ruling the skies, had the advantage at first. The bat, claiming it had wings, fought as a bird. However, when a monkey among the beasts set a trap that cornered the birds, and the beasts gained the upper hand, the bat betrayed the birds and claimed it was born from its mother’s womb, thus aligning itself with the beasts. As the tides of war shifted, the bat kept changing its allegiance. In the end, after peace was established between the birds and the beasts, the bat found itself without a place.」

Interesting… So this world has the fable of the bat as well.

Human nature seems to think alike, after all.

The representative of Nemes responded.

「Foxes and wolves are very similar in appearance. There is a story about a fox that boasts to other animals that it is related to the wolf. Did you hear about it?」

So, I’m the wolf and Abraham is the fox. Well, it is true that Abraham and I are related.

A tense stare-off ensued between Abraham and the Nemes representative. The atmosphere was on the brink of explosion.

Sigh… We don’t have time for this right now…

「I don’t want to hear about bats, foxes, or any animals, it doesn’t matter now. What I’m asking is whether your country will join us in defeating Pofenia, fight us alongside Pofenia, or remain neutral. Which will it be?」

「As I said, we…

I interrupted the representative of Nemes.

「Pay our country a thousand talents immediately, or join our country as an allied city-state and provide soldiers for the war against Pofenia. Also, cede your western territory to Gehenna. No other terms of surrender will be accepted.」

I pressed Nemes with the conditions Abraham and I had previously agreed upon.

I have no intention of accepting any other terms.

If Nemes chooses to fight alongside Pofenia against us, I will respect that decision.

However, the city-state of Nemes will likely disappear from the map as a result.

「…Our country is also negotiating with Pofenia.」

「I figured as much. So what? Reach a decision quickly. I don’t care either way.」

I pressed Nemes firmly. A quick glance to my side revealed that Iarl and Bartolo wore slightly tense expressions.

Actually, it wasn’t just the two of them.

Everyone present was holding their breath, watching the exchange between me and the Nemes representative.

「Understood… We surrender.」

Nemes folded. So, they were just bluffing after all.

Pofenia, instead of extending a helping hand to Lezado in its time of crisis, pointed their weapons at it. This made it clear that Pofenia had no intention of making any concessions.

If Nemes sought aid from Pofenia, they would undoubtedly demand an exorbitant price in return.

Of course, the terms I demanded were not cheap either. Joining as an allied city-state meant being taxed and having their autonomy significantly restricted.

Still, it was preferable to seeing Nemes go up in flames.

「Now, there are other minor issues, such as dealing with the former Lezado councilors who sought asylum in your country, but… those can be addressed later. For now, our priority is to defeat Pofenia. In two days, we will organize our forces and drive Pofenia out of the Adernian Peninsula!」

◇

「General, it seems Nemes has allied with King Rosais’ Country.」

「Hmm… to align themselves with barbarians, the once proud Kirisians have truly fallen. It is clear that we, Pofenia, are destined to dominate the Tethys Sea,」

Kepka said with a dismissive smile.

Kepka’s primary interest lay in the port at the southern tip of the Adernian Peninsula and some of the fertile land. He had no need for the people living there.

King Rosais’ Country, mainly inhabited by Adernians, had agriculture as its main industry. The Adernians were people who focused on agriculture and did not engage in trade. Moreover, they lacked seafaring skills and some even feared the sea.

Therefore, Kirisians and Adernians could coexist.

However, the Pofenians were people focused on trade, much like the Kirisians, thriving on maritime trade. Their industries overlapped with those of the Kirisians, making coexistence impossible.

To secure the land, Kepka intended to drive the Kirisians out from the southern tip of the Adernian Peninsula and establish Pofenian colonial cities. The Kirisians were a hindrance to this plan.

Thus, Kepka demanded Nemes pay 3,000 talents upfront and another 10,000 talents over fifty years in installments.

The annual income of Nemes was approximately 1,000 talents.

Paying a total of 13,000 talents was an impossible feat. Even if they could manage it, by that time, the city-state of Nemes would be utterly ruined.

Nemes could never agree to such terms. Therefore, it was entirely predictable that Nemes would lean towards aligning with King Rosais’ Country.

「Our numbers may be slightly inferior, but I have no intention of losing to barbarians. We will settle this with a decisive field battle.」

Kepka smiled confidently, anticipating victory.