Episode 203 Abyss Crusade – Preparation for war (4)
Nordrich, capital of the Northern United Kingdom.
The residents of the United Kingdom were looking up with curiosity at the massive body of the French naval flagship ‘Libre’, which had entered the capital port.
And in the meantime, in the royal palace of the Northern United Kingdom, their King Gustav XII spoke bluntly, without hiding his discomfort.
“This is the second time I have devoted my precious time to you.”
“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”
The attitude of the woman in front of me is somewhat polite, but her expression is completely far from glorious.
Christine, Countess of Aquitaine.
Or should I call her the Marchioness of Lafayette now?
Anyway, Gustav XII was very uncomfortable.
It is disturbing to see that she is wearing a dull black military uniform rather than the dress that a noblewoman should wear as a matter of course in order to enter the royal palace.
Moreover, she came to the situation alone and had a private meeting with Maurice Talleyrand, the head of Francia’s diplomatic affairs, without him.
From Gustav XII’s point of view, there was nothing he liked.
However, regardless of whether the other person is a young woman or not, she is a naval admiral from a powerful country called Franzia and is visiting as a diplomatic envoy.
A certain level of formality….
“Recognize that I am showing the utmost patience just by allowing you to take the second private seat, Black Witch of Aquitaine.”
I didn’t feel the need to set it up.
Above all, Gustav
Christine responded with a smile when she was called the Black Witch of Aquitaine, which was a diplomatic rhetoric and all.
“We thank His Majesty the King for his consideration. “Then may I tell you my business?”
King Gustav
“Hehe.”
Christine bowed lightly and then opened her mouth.
“The Revolutionary Kingdom of Franzia requests that the Northern United Kingdom participate in the war against the Abyss Corporation.”
“under. Hahahaha!”
Gustav XII burst out laughing.
He laughed for a while, but Christine was still looking at him with an elegant smile on her lips.
Finally, King Gustav XII stopped laughing and opened his mouth in a boiling voice.
“How dare you, who have always used luggage, try to use it again?”
Christine slowly tilted her head and opened her mouth.
“I am offended, Your Majesty. We have kept all the promises we made to you, Your Majesty. We lifted the maritime blockade, properly purchased minerals that had been cut off from trade with the empire, and even connected the rebel forces within Krafte that we had promised.”
That was all that Franzia had promised from the beginning.
“Not only that, we not only captured the main force led by the ‘Great King’ of Krafte, but also achieved victory, preventing them from concentrating on the Northern United Kingdom front, so I think we did more than what was expected of us as an alliance.”
“It was you who ended the war before my kingdom could recover its homeland.”
Even though Gustav XII glared at her, Christine smiled and answered.
“You are right, Your Majesty. “At least we did our part as allies.”
Christine gave him a strange look, but Gustav XII bit his molars.
‘But isn’t the problem that you suffered a crushing defeat with only 50,000 troops against 20,000 at best?’
Even if you don’t say it with your mouth, the message is clearly conveyed with just your eyes.
“Not only that, but we also gave His Majesty the King of the Northern United Kingdom the opportunity to sign as the victorious nation at the negotiating table.”
“under! Victory country? “A victorious country without gaining anything?”
“At least I didn’t strengthen it alone and let Your Majesty’s kingdom be trampled by Krafte’s vengeance. “Shouldn’t we have done that much to avoid being unfairly accused of ‘taking advantage’?”
Gustav
“Go away, witch. “I will see no more of you in my kingdom.”
Christine opened her mouth casually, still smiling despite the invitation to congratulate the guests.
“Are you supplying large quantities of minerals to the Abyss Corporation, Your Majesty?”
“How dare you interfere in our internal affairs!”
“No, Your Majesty. Could that be possible? “I just have some concerns.”
“concern?”
“The war between the Central Continent and the Abyss Corporation will soon begin, Your Majesty.”
Gustav XII furrowed his brows.
It did not necessarily refer to Franzia, but to the central continent.
If this is not an empty statement, it means that a significant number of countries are planning to go to war with the Abyss Corporation.
“This is not just a war between nations, Your Majesty. It is humanity’s crusade against the threat of the demons and the abyss. “It’s tempting to say how far so-called ‘neutrality’ will be applied in a war where the fate of the race is at stake, but even I can’t guarantee it.”
“How dare you threaten me now?”
“No, Your Majesty. I’m just telling you the truth. Moreover, the enemy in this war is beyond the sea. “This means that a significant number of ground forces that will remain in the central continent can be deployed somewhere at any time.”
Christine added with her jet-black eyes shining in front of Gustav
“I am offended, Your Majesty. “I dare to give you advice because I believe His Majesty may have similar thoughts to mine.”
“advice? “Witch, how dare you give this burden?”
Despite Gustav XII’s harsh tone, Christine continued speaking in a calm manner.
“Your Majesty, will the Great Peace come just because the demons disappear? Everyone calls for justice for the continent against evil, eliminating threats and maintaining peace, but at least I don’t think so.”
“….”
“A continent that has lost its exploits may become as unstable as before or even more so. What’s more, if there was a country that did not participate in the crusade but instead provided resources to enemy demons…”
Gustav XII thought that Christine’s extremely elegant smile was as creepy as the devil.
“Your Majesty the King. “Your Majesty, will you leave the country alone even if it has a stronger national power for such a cause?”
* * *
Mittelmark, the capital of the Kingdom of Krafte.
The previous king, who grew Krafte into a powerful nation, was called the Great King during his heyday and received all kinds of praise, but in his later years, he died without losing popularity as the culprit of a defeated war.
The new residence of Crown Prince Heinrich, or now King Henry I, was not the Grand King’s villa surrounded by a parade ground, which was like a symbol of the Kingdom of Krafte.
The new king’s residence was the Margrave’s Palace, again located in Mittelmark, the administrative center and capital.
A simple residence, closer to a mansion than a king’s palace.
Krafte experienced a short period of upheaval under the rule of an industrious young monarch who lived there and became famous for frequenting the government buildings in the immediate vicinity.
The military, which consumed almost the entire national budget, was reduced, and the military service period was drastically shortened from 10 years to 4 years.
After recruiting diverse talents and reforming the administration, Heinrich transformed Krafte from a ‘state where the military is everything’ to an ‘innovative bureaucratic state’ in a short period of time.
However, this did not mean that Krafte forgot the war.
Henry I got off the carriage and entered the stylish new building.
“Your Majesty the King.”
“Your Majesty the King!”
The people you encounter are all young officers dressed in military uniform.
Heinrich, who accepted their salute and walked forward, soon opened a fairly large door and entered a dark room.
Under the dim lighting of the magic lamp, thick cigarette smoke stings the king’s nose.
Heinrich chuckled as he recalled the terrible smell, and the soldiers sitting on the chairs all stood up and saluted.
“Welcome, Your Majesty!”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Heinrich smiled as he looked at the strategy map filled with mountains of cigarettes in the ashtray on the table and the words symbolizing all kinds of armies.
Then, he walked slowly and glanced at the piles of documents filling the room.
Krafte apparently reduced the size of the army significantly.
The sacrifices were great in the first place, and it was also a time when we had to focus on rebuilding the country for the time being.
Nevertheless, Henry did not strip the talented officers who had gained experience in the war against Francia, and instead created a group to specialize in the study of war, even if it did not directly command the army.
The War Department, which would later be called the first modern Chief of Staff, has a mountain of records of all past battles, military information, and records of mock battles conducted by officers as each battle unfolded.
In it, the battles fought against the Marquis de Lafayette of Francia are evaluated, as well as the countless number of cases where different developments in those battles were possible and what the response would be, as well as the predicted results.
Of course, not only the battle with Francia was analyzed, but almost all battles that existed in history were analyzed.
Based on the scenarios they created, countless mock battles were held using actual soldiers.
Instead of the machine-like strong soldiers who moved to the tune of the great king, the officer corps, which was smaller in number but more elite in quality, continued the fight in countless situations that could not have been fought individually.
And the target of the simulation they assumed included the Abyss Corporation, especially the drone army.
By the order of none other than King Henry himself.
King Heinrich looked around at the vast amount of experimental data and various opinion proposals that the officers had accumulated over two years, and then turned his back.
Accordingly, General Scharnhorst, head of the Ministry of War and founder of the Mittelmark War College, and his subordinates all show a courtesy to the king.
Heinrich looked at each of them as if he was seeing them all in his eyes.
Henry I does not dare to surpass Charles II in military capabilities.
Even against the Marquis de Lafayette of Francia, he could not win.
Therefore, instead of trying to highlight himself as a hero, he has prioritized national innovation and organizational building.
Two years spent like that. Time is short.
However, this is the first opportunity for a generation hardened by the fiercest war to accept the war lessons most closely and meet them at the most acute moment.
“The time has come to show off your achievements.”
Heinrich spoke while making eye contact with the generals who were burning with enthusiasm.
“It is often said that Krafte, without its great king, lost its glory as a military nation.”
“Hahahaha….”
The generals and officers present burst into laughter.
“Now tell me, gentlemen. Have we forgotten how to fight?”
“no!”
“Have our wings been broken?”
“no!”
Heinrich smiled satisfied.
“As it happens, no matter how overwhelmingly the enemy demons are exterminated, you will be praised, not feared.”
-Bittenfeld was a devil.
Even in the terrible pain of burning pain, the words that he must have written so desperately while vomiting blood still remain in his heart.
A heavy war that his country had to endure.
The fierceness of the moment when he defended the country against the Dukes who rebelled against the Northern United Kingdom with a desperate determination.
-I have fulfilled my duty, Heinrich.
The fate of the previous king, who raised Krafte to a powerful nation and never abandoned his responsibility, even though he was just a warmonger until the end.
If it all came from the needs of those demons.
“As the King of Krafte and your patron, I command you.”
Heinrich declared with a cold smile.
“There is no need for mercy. Show overwhelming power (Krafte)!”
“Jawohl!”
Those demons must face the wrath of the illegitimate child they created.
