Episode 197 Shadow Peace – Before the Storm (3)
Naturally, the Eastern Empire’s request to provide anchorage rights and participate in the war caused trouble.
The National Assembly held the very next day was full of outcries.
“Nonsense! In the war against Krafte, all they sent was at most one regiment’s worth of artillery! But are you asking us not to provide reinforcements but to participate in a full-scale war?”
To be honest, I never thought the Eastern Empire would think like that.
At best, I thought the army under my command would be dispatched to help with the defensive battle, but who would have imagined that they would attempt to launch a full-scale invasion of the Abyss Corporation’s mainland?
“The sea between the Abyss Corporation and the mainland of Franzia takes less than half a day for a battleship to cross! “If you ask me to give up my berth here, doesn’t that mean I’m going to use Francia as my main battlefield?”
The biggest problem is this.
Using Franzia, it is very easy to attack the Abyss Corporation’s mainland, but on the other hand, it also makes it easy for the Abyss Corporation to counterattack.
“Let’s say we give up anchorage rights. “Can their… Blue Dragon Fleet win against the Abyss Corporation’s fleet?”
Moreover, the opponent is none other than the fleet of Lassa, the ruler of the sea.
Although Franzia had made considerable efforts to strengthen its fleet during the war and for two years after the end of the war, Christine assessed that our fleet could still match half of the strength of the Las Sa fleet.
The Eastern Empire claims that it can be defeated if the Blue Dragon Fleet and Franzia’s fleet combine, but it is difficult to believe that the warring countries objectively evaluate their own power as they always do.
Moreover, looking at the attitude the Eastern Empire has shown so far, the trust that was there is likely to disappear…
“What is the size of their fleet? And didn’t you say that their fleets are in the southern and eastern parts of the Eastern Empire? “If their territory is so large, how on earth did they get here?”
“They say they use the Cape of Good Hope route around the southern continent, which was used by old Porto merchants…”
“Oh, you said you would pass through that barren land. “By the time we reach Francia, it will not be a fleet but a shipwrecked fleet.”
Laughs erupted from everywhere.
To be honest, even if it were me, I don’t really believe it. Is it possible for the fleet to maintain strength during a journey that will take months?
It’s bold and reckless to come up with such a crazy plan.
“It was once widely used as a spice trade route, and it was actually a route where merchant ships once traveled. It will take time to regroup after the journey, but it is theoretically possible.”
After Christine, a naval officer and commercial expert, spoke, the atmosphere calmed down relatively, but public opinion in the National Assembly was still extremely skeptical.
“Well, let’s say it’s possible. Only two years have passed since the war ended. After over 10 years of war, starting from the civil war, there was only 2 years of peace. “Is there any need for us to be on the front lines and get involved in a war that we don’t know if we can win or not?”
No one hastily answered this.
No, I can’t answer.
Who could call for a war to begin immediately in Francia, which is recovering from its wounds after a difficult end to the long war?
Neither Christine nor I can make such claims carelessly.
Finally, President Nicola Brisseau sighed and said,
“Still, since we are allies in name and name, it would be better to withhold the answer for now.”
President Maurice Talleyrand also nodded and responded.
“Let’s investigate through the embassy what level of power their so-called Blue Dragon Fleet possesses. “I don’t think the discussion will proceed without first determining whether there is a chance of winning or not.”
“Then let’s proceed like that.”
In the end, the first meeting ended like that.
* * *
In the carriage returning to the mansion after attending the National Assembly.
“What do you think, Pierre?”
After hearing Christine’s question, I was lost in thought for a moment.
Abyss Corporation.
It is an unquestionable threat, especially to Franzia.
If nothing else, I know the trigger of the Industrial Revolution, the revolutionary process, and the inside story of the Iberica Peninsula, so I believe there is no room for even second thoughts about them being a threat.
Above all, I myself have actually faced death several times because of the Abyss Corporation.
They incited King Louis to attack Lafayette, incited the radical members of the council to almost kill Christine, and worked behind the scenes of the countries at war with Francia to put me in danger.
“War against Abyss Corporation is necessary.”
It is clear that they are enemies of Franzia, and judging from the drones they used, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they are enemies of the entire continent.
In the first place, it is careless to leave alone a hostile being with overwhelming technological power.
Even when all wars were over and armaments were reduced, Franzia considered the Abyss Corporation as a potential enemy and strengthened its navy.
It goes without saying that all of those movements were influenced by the influence of me, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and Christine, the Navy Admiral.
“But it’s too soon.”
Francia still needs a lot of time to recover from the long wounds that began during the civil war. If a war has lasted more than 10 years, it takes at least that much time to recover.
“If you rashly call for war in Francia now, you will be subject to all kinds of criticism.”
Francia was not ready to go to war again.
Peace was achieved with great difficulty after a long war, but few people would agree to start another war…. Not only
emotionally, but also physically, we have not been able to completely escape from the enormous war expenditure and countless sacrifices.
“…Maybe that’s why it’s happening now.”
“What do you mean, Christine?”
“The scale of the reorganization or purge that has taken place within Abyss Corporation is enormous. Even though we only have limited observations from the outside, it is likely that the situation inside is actually more serious. “A radical reorganization of this scale is bound to leave aftereffects.”
“It’s an aftereffect…”
Christine seemed lost in thought for a moment and then slowly opened her mouth.
“Nevertheless, they launched a war with the Eastern Empire before they could fully recover from the aftereffects. “Unlike the attitude of Abyss Corporation, which has so far moved leisurely according to its own grand strategy, there is a clear sense of impatience in its movements.”
“Nervousness. “The devils are on edge.”
As the commander-in-chief of the army, I judge such things by movements on the battlefield.
But Christine probably sees something more political than that.
“It’s hard to think about. A force as powerful as them, and those who do not have to worry about their lifespan…”
Elves, the leaders of the Eastern Empire, also live hundreds of years, but demons live longer than that.
It is known to exist almost forever unless it is physically killed, and in fact, the national power of the Abyss Corporation based on it is, even looking at it coldly, several steps ahead of other countries on the continent.
“That’s a reason for people like that to be nervous. “What is that?”
“Well, we don’t know that much. “There is one thing we can know.”
“hmm?”
“They don’t want a war with Franzia or the Central Continent right now. So, even with the aftereffects of a radical reorganization, we are trying to wage war against our greatest enemy, the Eastern Empire.”
“It’s a bit paradoxical, but since you don’t want a war with the Central Continent, you fight the more powerful Eastern Empire?”
“The Eastern Empire is powerful, but it is arrogant and closed. They probably expected that even if they attacked the Eastern Empire, the countries of the central continent would not participate in the war. Moreover, in reality, they are far from being able to attack the mainland of Abyss Corporation.”
surely.
What country would want to help the Eastern Empire when they are doing this to us, who are their allies?
Even if the Eastern Empire were to be destroyed by demons, most people would think it was someone else’s problem, or there would even be people who would feel happy about it.
“On the other hand, the Central Continent is experiencing the aftereffects of the war as various countries are involved in Francia’s Revolutionary War, but the possibility of uniting against the great enemy of the devil’s threat cannot be ruled out. “The Central Continent, especially Franzia, is under the Abyss Corporation, so it is the worst situation for them.”
“…You’re right Christine. “Right now, all the countries in the central continent are undergoing military reform.”
It is not just my revolutionary army that is undergoing a major reorganization and reorganizing the army as soon as the war ends.
The Germanian Empire, which was humiliated in the war, is also undergoing a major reorganization of its military system, not only accepting the war lessons of Franziana Krafte, but also recruiting a significant number of foreign veteran soldiers.
I heard that the Northern United Kingdom, which suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Prince Heinrich, now King Henry I, is gritting its teeth and strengthening its army, and needless to say, the Kingdom of Krafte, which is a military state itself.
The revolutionary war over Francia caused considerable damage to the central continent, but at the same time, no country experienced its mainland being overrun by the enemy.
And wars like this usually leave behind many military lessons and become military traditions that will be passed on to future generations.
The countries of the central continent shed a lot of blood, but paradoxically, they became stronger.
The amazing size and national power of the Eastern Empire astounded us, but in terms of military power, it was not good.
They are extremely arrogant and closed-minded, and are even a race whose leaders live for hundreds of years.
Since they are like that, just like the proud knights of Francia, they would stick to old traditions and be insensitive to accepting new doctrines and military training.
Even the Eastern Empire has not fought a proper war for quite some time.
I don’t know if it’s Francia alone, but if it’s the entire Central Continent, I think it would be more than enough to overwhelm them.
Given the excellent intelligence skills the demons have shown so far, it wouldn’t be surprising if they were properly aware of this situation.
“…If you think about it that way, it looks like they were caught off guard at the most optimal moment.”
“yes that’s right. “They must have decided that now is an opportune time that should not be missed, so they are hastening the war despite internal problems.”
Christine was silent for a moment and then opened her mouth.
“And if that’s the case, I don’t think we should let them get their way.”
“I don’t want to do that either, but there’s no way, right? Not only the National Assembly but also the people do not want war. Moreover, the Eastern Empire is acting arrogantly without understanding the situation…”
Christine shrugged.
“If your feet are on fire, your pride will quickly fall into the gutter.”
“Haha, that’s right.”
It is true that the Eastern Empire has superior technology than Francia in terms of artillery technology and naval technology, but ultimately war is fought by people, not weapons.
In reality, when the armies of the Abyss Corporation and the Eastern Empire face each other, there will be no way for the Eastern Empire to have the upper hand.
“And we are military commanders. “It is not difficult to prepare for war within the given budget and discretion.”
“Hmm and?”
It feels like the Commander-in-Chief of the Army has a Navy Admiral as his staff, but in times like this, there is no one more reliable than Christine.
“First of all, if we prepare like that, if the Eastern Empire starts crying, we can take anything. Then, at least, we will be able to change the opinion of the National Assembly.”
“Regardless of the National Assembly, public opinion is…”
I stopped talking and then closed my mouth.
A wry smile naturally forms on my face.
There are people who can move.
“…Your Majesty the Queen will do something.”
Christine smiled lightly.
“It is up to you to persuade Her Majesty, Pierre.”
“Ah, you are asking me to do something difficult.”
Even if not, I have to go to war again with Eris, who doesn’t like shedding blood. This is it…
Christine laughed and answered.
“Am I going to move with President Talleyrand?”
“With President Talleyrand? “What are you trying to do?”
Christine gently brushed her hair and smiled darkly.
“Actually, the area where I was hit by the bullet still hurts.”
“…ah.”
Now that I think about it, Christine is also the type of person who doesn’t forget grudges.
“…The demons went to war thinking that the Central Continent would not be able to move. Then, shouldn’t we repay them with the worst-case scenario they least want?”
