abcnovels
Chapter 308: Self Nomination
Chapter 308: Self Nomination
Chapter 308: Self Nomination
How much has the situation changed?
I asked Sebas as I make my way to the throne room.
While I was acting as Silver, in addition to the on-going civil war, the Empire was invaded by other countries. Even the slightest move could cause the whole situation to change.
The most serious situation is the North, sir. Leonard-sama had erected a defensive line with three armies using the main force, the army of the Union of the Northern Lords and the Imperial army but they can not maintain the defensive line because the army of the Northern Lords was routed. Currently, Leonard-sama is leading the main army and fighting defensively in a castle but the castle in question is being besieged, sir.
His decision not to withdraw immediately was wise. If Leo withdraws from that place then most of the Northern Lords will migrate to Gordons camp instead. That alone is enough to decide the battle.
However, Leonard-sama is being besieged in return. The Imperial army led by the generals is still locked in a stalemate with the enemy army. It is a situation where he can not expect any on-site rescue, sir.
Thats why I will bring up the topic of dispatching reinforcements from the Imperial Capital. Leo will have a hard time dealing with the Dragon Prince after all. The United Kingdom probably dispatched reinforcements anyway right? They still have their Dragon Knight Order after all.
Yes. The enemy army initially has 40,000 men and Leonard-samas army also has the same number. However, with 20,000 reinforcements from the United Kingdom and the Dominion, including the Dragon Knights led directly by the Dragon Prince, the Northern Lords couldnt cope with them, sir.
Rather than they couldnt cope with the enemy, it is more like they didnt feel like doing it in the first place. The Northern Lords dont have a strong sense of duty to help the Imperial Family from the start after all.
I sigh.
Three years ago. Since the death of the Crown Prince, the Northern Lords have been treated coldly. They were slandered and accused that they let the Crown Prince die while some even say that they were directly involved in his death.
There were almost no attendees from the North at the festival in the Imperial Capital so it can be said that our relationship with the North has gone cold.
Even if we call them the Union of the Northern Lords, it doesnt mean that every Lord in the North has participated in this war and the morale of those participating is not that high.
In the first place, the Fourth Consorts birthplace is the North. One could say that it is Gordons factions turf. Apparently, their relationship with Gordon was not so good but it will probably make it awkward for them to fight him aggressively. Is Duke Lowenstein still retaining his neutrality?
Yes. Using his illness as the reason, he still hasnt joined either side, sir.
The Duke of Lowenstein is the most influential aristocrat in the North.
The family head is the father of the Fourth Consort. As a general of the Imperial Army, he was once feared as the [Thunder God]. He is a powerful piece that will turn the tide of the war regardless of the side he joins.
However, he was once a great general of the Imperial Army. Even if he is his grandson, Gordon is still a member of the Imperial family and Leo is naturally the same. It seems that he has no intention to participate in our internal conflict.
I understand the situation in the North now. What about the West?
The commander of the Western Front is His Highness Traugott and Leticia-sama is also providing her assistance there, sir. The Griffon Knights of the Royal Army are aware that Leticia-sama is on our side so they refuse to mobilize. Due to that, the Kingdoms invasion is stalled and they are currently in a deadlock, sir.
You told me before that Elna also went there as their escort right? Since the Kingdom has no idea when she might take out the Holy Sword, they will probably take a wait and see approach for the time being. Still, Trau-niisan really went out huh?
Its not just how he went all the way out to the West Border despite the rebellion at the capital that surprised me. I thought of him as one of the Imperial family members who practically never moved away from the Imperial Capital itself.
It was a direct order from His Majesty, sir. His Majesty intends to take control of the situation there by sending his most trusted generals of the Imperial Army, an Imperial family member, and the Imperial Knights.
With a prince and the Imperial Knights, the army will not try anything strange huh. But then there would be a limit to the troops we can mobilize right?
Yes. That is what His Majesty is currently discussing, sir.
The most trustworthy personnel of the imperial army are probably together with Trau-niisan and Leo already. We should still have an army left to be dispatched at the capital but the question is whether they can be trusted or not.
Father probably thinks that it is dangerous to send them out on their own. Even so, Leo still needs reinforcements.
There are no more princes or princesses that he can move. He cant send Christa or Rupert to the battlefield and if Father or the Brave personally join the frontline then the war will escalate even further.
If Father or the Brave goes out personally then the accompanying army will be both strong and huge. If we defeat the United Kingdom and the Dominion with such an army then they will dispatch even more reinforcements. If we handle this poorly the civil war will only be prolonged instead.
Yes, it may not be exactly as what Arnold-sama desires but this development should allow Arnold-sama to be the one who leads the reinforcements there personally.
Hearing Sebas, I shrug.
If its an ordinary opponent then it would be fine.
However, our opponent this time is anything but normal. They surely have countermeasures in place.
It would be fine if our opponent is only Gordon and the Imperial Army but they also have the Dragon Prince on their side. I already played him in the capital so he will probably put up his guard against me this time. If I make a big move then they will immediately find a way to counter me. They will try to prevent me from joining up with Leo and they might try to take Leo out as soon as possible too.
Then what do you plan to do, sir?
The same as usual. I will move in the shadows
I see. So even on a battlefield, you will be conducting secret maneuvers, correct.
Exactly. I am better off that way anyway. I will leave leading the army to Leo.
I grin.
The Imperial Armys impression of me has not changed much. This is due to the deep-rooted image of the Dull Prince that they have. However, Prince William is different.
He probably analyzed what happened in the capital already and realized that I had been sabotaging the rebellion throughout the incident.
With Leo who is good at a direct assault and me who moves behind the scenes, he is probably thinking that it would be bad for him if I can join up with Leo.
That is an opening I can exploit. I will not appear on the front and continue to move behind the scenes. However, I will continue to give him hints of my presence. Having him think that I am lurking in the shadows and stay on guard against me is already the best result I can hope for.
After all, the battlefield in the North will not change immediately.
The key is the Northern Lords. Unless we can not make them move in earnest then we wont be able to see the conclusion of this battle.
Leo fighting inside the castle is convenient for me. He is indeed in need of assistance but Williams eyes will be focused on him. He probably wont be able to monitor all the Northern Lords.
Using that time, if I can unite the Northern Lords then we will be able to destroy the enemy army in one go.
That is the earliest way to settle this as far as I can think of.
If we can not end this civil war then we cant get back to the succession war after all. Besides..the Imperial Family should clean up its own mess.
Gordon is a member of the Imperial Family. If he rebelled then it is our responsibility to suppress him.
No one would say out loud that it is the Imperial Family or the Emperors fault. Still, such thoughts will linger in their mind. And we of the Imperial Family must engrave it in ours.
When I thought so far, I was already in front of the throne room.
The knights guarding the entrance are staring at me in surprise.
Then, a loud angry voice can be heard from the inside.
If we send out an army that we can not trust then it will only serve as the enemys reinforcements! Cant you think of any usable plan at all!?
It was Fathers voice.
Since the Ministers probably give him the usual answers, Father must have been frustrated.
The Ministers are also pitiful.
I slowly push the door to the throne room open with both hands.
The door opened with a creaking noise and the eyes of the people inside all drawn toward me.
I will lead the army to Leos rescue myself. Ahh, please dont worry. I will be gathering the reinforcements on that side so.
Please lend only some elites to accompany me.
After I said that, Fathers cheeks cramped up.