Chapter 144: Choose Either (2)
Roman took a sip of tea.
As I savored the bitter taste, I put down the teacup, and Lucas, who was standing across from me, reported what he had investigated.
“It is as expected, my lord. After moving the Black Moon and leaking information, it seems that Count Douglas contacted the Northeast Alliance and expressed his intention to go to war. In fact, judging from the fact that they are encouraging the lords of the north to gather troops, it doesn’t seem like a problem that will end with a simple emotional response.”
“The Beast of the North is an extreme character. Even if I responded emotionally, I wouldn’t take back what I said once.”
thinking of a plan
Roman found the right person.
While absorbing Black Moon into Hao Moon, he obtained information related to slush funds, and the relationship between Earl Douglas and the Northeast Alliance was equipped with an attractive element.
From then on, Roman let his imagination fly in his head.
At the time when it was necessary to organize the order of the Northeast area, I thought about how to use it in various directions.
The moment I met Dmitry’s peasants.
Roman’s plan was completed.
As the scattered pieces of the puzzle came together, Roman came up with a picture that would destroy the Northeast Alliance.
‘There was no word or action that was not included in the plan.’
Provocation at a social party.
He purposely spat out offensive remarks in front of everyone, and he knew that Viscount Conrad would be furious.
Haowen’s report told us his disposition.
He was proud of being a member of the ‘Northeast Alliance’ in his own way.
understand people’s tendencies.
Viscount Conrad is a key figure in the Northeast Alliance, and his disposition has no choice but to have a huge impact on the Alliance’s decisions.
from start to finish.
It was an expected development.
As Viscount Konrad reacted to the provocation, the Northeast Federation and Dmitry’s discord arose, and the moment Roman declared a tournament, the Northeast Federation naturally stepped into a trap.
The same was the case with the Earl of Douglas.
If the Northeast Confederacy had bowed low from the start, the Earl of Douglas would have had a reason to calm his anger, but he made the situation worse by trying to take advantage.
do they know
The fact that just one person’s inclination was sinking the Northeast Federation into a pit of despair as time went on.
Roman said.
“Things went according to plan so far. However, unlike Count Douglas, Viscount Conrad is not the type of person to run into without looking back when cornered. That’s why he apologized to me at social parties and didn’t raise his voice after the tournament. It will be the same this time. If Earl Douglas comes out strong, he is more likely to drop his pride and raise the white flag first.”
It was obvious.
Strong Weak Weak Strong (強弱弱強).
He was a typical type of aristocrat.
His opponent was a wild beast from the north, but he didn’t have the courage to fight blushing until the end.
so that.
“From now on, spread rumors as planned. So that spilled water cannot be picked up again. Create a situation so that Earl Douglas’s wrath does not subside no matter what the Northeast Federation does to defuse the situation. Only when they are driven to a corner from which they can no longer retreat, they will be able to let go of their unworthy pride.”
“All right.”
suddenly.
Lucas felt sorry for his opponent.
Like a snake that gradually tightens the leash.
Roman’s plan did not allow the opponent to escape at all.
* * *
The rumor started from something trivial.
Douglas Youngji.
The merchant who did business there spoke in a voice mixed with a sigh as he handed over his goods to the customer.
“I probably won’t be able to do business properly for a while.”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you mean? I am receiving deliveries from the Northeast area, but this time the atmosphere of Count Douglas and the Northeast Federation is very vicious. At first, I thought it was just a feud, but the Northeast Federation is preparing to attack the Douglas estate while wiping out war materials. So, for the time being, I will have to close my business. You can’t receive deliveries and you can’t do business during the war, can you?”
“… Is it really?”
The guests were astounded.
war news.
It was not something to be overlooked, and as soon as he went home, he told his family everything he had heard.
The wife, who heard her husband’s words, relayed the news to the women around her, who also told their families that Douglas was in danger with a serious expression.
Did you say that a horse without feet can travel a thousand miles?
Rumors that started from something very trivial quickly began to spread all over Douglas.
And that wasn’t all.
The servants who worked at Douglas Castle spread rumors in coy voices while working.
“I heard from a servant working at Conrad that Viscount Conrad expressed great anger after contacting Count Douglas. They said they just smashed all the furniture and made a mess. I’m not certain about this, but it looks like they’re plotting some sort of revenge against Count Douglas.”
“Viscount Conrad is a very snake-like person. On the surface, he will try to solve the problem with a smile, but he will definitely seek revenge on Count Douglas. Otherwise, there would be no way for rumors to circulate that the Northeast Federation is calling in troops. Rumor has it that they are intent on crushing Count Douglas. Aren’t we getting caught up in a war for no reason while we’re here?”
servants’ words.
It’s usually nothing.
But while rumors spread all over Douglas, the chatter of the servants could never be overlooked.
Rumors quickly spread.
If at first it was simply a rumor predicting war.
From a certain moment, rumors circulated that the Northeast Confederacy had ill will toward Earl Douglas.
The merchant who started the rumor.
The servants who fueled the rumors.
They all belonged to Hao Mun.
Haomen (lower gate).
These are people living at the bottom of their lives.
People did not regard them as important, but every word they uttered eventually shaped public opinion.
And the rumors that have swelled like that.
Quaang!
“How dare you do anything to me?! Issue the conscription order immediately! If he had admitted his fault and showed the appearance of clumsiness, he would have let it go, but if he was talking like that, he would need the punishment he deserved. In the name of the Douglas family. I will never forgive those rats.”
beast of the north.
he exploded
* * *
Shortly after first contacting Count Douglas.
The Northeast Federation came to a conclusion after a long argument.
“There is nothing to gain from a war with Earl Douglas. In a situation where we are fighting for power in the northeast with Dmitry right now, if we lose our troops in the war for no reason, we cannot handle the aftermath of the storm. Isn’t Dmitry Roman a very warlike character? We need to bow our heads to the Earl of Douglas and conserve our strength to prepare for the dangers that lie ahead even in the event of a financial loss.”
“Then wait a few days and contact me. Don’t you have a minimum of self-respect though?”
If the other person gets angry and immediately cuts off his tail.
The Northeast Confederation would look ridiculous.
So I waited.
During those few days, the Northeast Federation could not even dare to imagine that malicious rumors would spread.
“Count Douglas! That’s framed! What a war! The Northeast Alliance has no intention of going to war and is thinking of monetary compensation to ask for forgiveness for this incident. So please temper your anger. Rumors spreading around us are absolutely different from our truth.”
beyond the screen.
I saw the face of Count Douglas.
Viscount Conrad tried to explain in an urgent voice, but Count Douglas had already covered his ears.
[Is it different from the truth? Viscount Conrad. Do you think I look blind? Everyone in the world is saying that the Northeast Federation is making a mess. When it’s not, there’s no smoke in the chimney, and you’re doing something, so people get scared and prepare for war.] The medicine went up
.
The fact that the other person made excuses as if nothing was wrong actually upset Count Douglas.
[I didn’t like you guys from the beginning. I thought that bat-like guys who chase after profit might show their teeth to me at any time. The reason I contacted you is not to compromise with you. So, throw away the fake face. The day you and I face each other, I will trample on your face and make you stop laughing.]
Tak-
Cut off communication.
It was a declaration of war.
Fire fell on the feet of the Northeast Federation.
I wanted to end the war somehow, but if the Earl Douglas had said this, the war could not be avoided.
said a nobleman.
“It’s a big deal. Earl Douglas is not one to splurge, and rumor has it he’s trying to lure the lords of the north. We can never win on our own. If war is unavoidable, we must have the power to overwhelm them somehow.”
“Central government! Let’s get in touch with them!”
There was no way.
It would be nice if they could get help from the surrounding nobles like Count Douglas, but due to the feud with Dmitri, there was no way they would lend their support except for the Northeast Alliance.
The only solution, then, was to involve outside forces.
The last contact was not a very good memory, but with the feeling of grabbing at least a straw, I put in a call to Count Fabius.
[Yes yes. I understand the difficult situation, but the central government cannot get involved in such matters. And wasn’t the Northeast Confederacy wrong? I made a mistake first, so please don’t leave it to someone else to fix it.]
Since the last contact.
Count Fabius’ reaction was cold.
Viscount Conrad, who had cut off communication at the action of clearly drawing a line, looked back at the nobles with a face lost for words.
“… It’s done. We can no longer avoid war.”
It was stifling.
I felt like I was stuck in a situation where my escape route was completely blocked.
War with the Earl of Douglas.
I don’t think the Northeast Alliance is unconditionally defeated, but there were too many things lost in that war.
Everyone said nothing.
They ran hard to solve the problem somehow, but the reality did not allow them any hope.
It was then.
“Lord! Roman Dmitry asked to be contacted!”
communicator’s words.
For a moment, the eyes of the nobles were focused.
* * *
Reason for contact?
It was obvious.
It must be the intention to ridicule the Northeast Federation.
I didn’t want to be contacted because of my heart, but Viscount Conrad did so with a feeling of desperation.
[I hear you’re having trouble with Count Douglas. Could you explain the situation?]
Roman asked.
It was unexpected.
In a calm voice, Viscount Conrad unknowingly expressed his frustration.
“I have nothing to say to the Dmitri family, but the people of the Northeast Alliance, including myself, owed something to Barko. However, Count Douglas arbitrarily showed a move to steal the Barco family’s slush fund, and we found it and took our share. That’s all. Earl Douglas, who later learned the truth, declared war, claiming that it was our responsibility even though he had done wrong first. We are sorry. If they had disclosed the slush funds fairly and distributed them properly, there would never have been any slush funds.”
It’s not about seeking consensus.
Opponent is Roman Dmitri.
They knew that they would not understand, and they just expressed their regrets out of frustration.
however.
[So what are you going to do? We can’t just stand by and watch the northern forces move over to the northeast.]
Moment.
I saw Roman.
Roman’s words.
What does it mean?
“… Are you sure you want to help us?”
[It depends on the attitude of the Northeast Federation. What I can say for sure is that no matter what our relationship, Dmitri has no intention of standing by what is happening in the Northeast.] That means
.
It was a completely different development from what the Northeast Federation had never expected.
